(a) When any person is arrested for a violation of this chapter or any regulation adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter or any ordinance or local law relating to the operation and equipment of vessels, and that person is not immediately taken before a magistrate, the arresting officer shall prepare in duplicate a written notice to appear in court, containing the name and address of that person, the offense charged, and the time and place where and when that person shall appear in court.

(b) The time specified in the notice to appear must be at least five days after the arrest.

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(c) The place specified in the notice to appear shall be any of the following:

(1) Before a superior court judge who is within the county in which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed and who is nearest and most accessible to the place where the arrest is made.

(2) Upon demand of the person arrested, before a superior court judge at the county seat of the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed.

(3) Before an officer authorized by the county, city, or city and county, to receive a deposit of bail.

(4) Before a superior court judge within 50 miles by the nearest road to the place of the alleged offense and whose county contains any portion of the body of water upon which the offense charged is alleged to have been committed.

(d) The officer shall deliver one copy of the notice to appear to the arrested person and the arrested person in order to secure release must give a written promise so to appear in court by signing the duplicate notice which shall be retained by the officer. Thereupon the arresting officer shall forthwith release the person arrested from custody.

(e) The officer shall, as soon as practicable, file the duplicate notice with the magistrate specified therein. Thereupon the magistrate shall fix the amount of bail which in the magistrate’s judgment, in accordance with the provisions of § 1275 of the Penal Code, will be reasonable and sufficient for the appearance of the defendant and shall indorse upon the notice a statement signed by the defendant in the form set forth in Section 815a of the Penal Code. The defendant may, prior to the date upon which the defendant promised to appear in court, deposit with the magistrate the amount of bail thus set. Thereafter, at the time when the case is called for arraignment before the magistrate, if the defendant shall not appear, either in person or by counsel, the magistrate may declare the bail forfeited, and may in the magistrate’s discretion order that no further proceedings shall be had in the case.

Upon the making of any order that no further proceedings be had, all sums deposited as bail shall forthwith be paid into the county treasury for distribution pursuant to § 1463 of the Penal Code.

(f) No warrant shall issue on any charge for the arrest of a person who has given a written promise to appear in court, unless and until the person has violated that promise or has failed to deposit bail, to appear for arraignment, trial or judgment, or to comply with the terms and provisions of the judgment, as required by law.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 449, Sec. 22. Effective January 1, 2004.)