Filing of civil infraction citation; electronic filing; disposal of citation; return of citations; retention of records

1. Every peace officer, upon issuing a civil infraction citation to an alleged violator of any provision of the motor vehicle laws of this State or of any traffic ordinance, shall file manually or, if the provisions of subsection 2 are satisfied, file electronically the original or a copy of the citation with a court having jurisdiction over the alleged offense or with its traffic violations bureau. 2. A copy of a civil infraction citation that is prepared electronically and issued to an alleged violator of any provision of the motor vehicle laws of this State or of any traffic ordinance may be filed electronically with a court having jurisdiction over the alleged civil infraction or with its traffic violations bureau if the court or traffic violations bureau, respectively: (a) Authorizes such electronic filing; (b) Has the ability to receive and store the citation electronically; and (c) Has the ability to physically reproduce the citation upon request. 3. Upon the filing of the original or a copy of the civil infraction citation with a court having jurisdiction over the alleged infraction or with its traffic violations bureau, the citation may be disposed of only by an official action of a judge of the court, an online program of dispute resolution established by the court, the prosecuting attorney or by the payment of a civil penalty to the court or its traffic violations bureau by the person to whom the civil infraction citation has been issued by the peace officer. 4. It is unlawful and official misconduct from any peace officer or other officer or public employee to dispose of a civil infraction citation or copies of it or of the record of the issuance of a civil infraction citation in a manner other than as required in this section. 5. The chief administrative officer of every traffic enforcement agency shall require the return to him or her of a physical copy or electronic record of every civil infraction citation issued by an officer under his or her supervision to an alleged violator of any traffic law or ordinance and of all physical copies and electronic records of every civil infraction citation which has been spoiled or upon which any entry has been made and not issued to an alleged violator. 6. The chief administrative officer of every traffic enforcement agency shall maintain or cause to be maintained a record of every civil infraction citation issued by any peace officer under his or her supervision. The record must be retained for at least 2 years after issuance of the citation.