COURT RULE 7:2-4. Summons: Execution and Service; Return

COURT RULE 7:2-4. Summons: Execution and Service; Return

• (a) Summons; Personal Service Under R. 4:4-4 or By Ordinary Mail.
  
  • (1) The Complaint-Summons shall be served personally in accordance with R. 4:4-4(a), by ordinary mail or by simultaneous mailing in accordance with paragraph (b) of this rule. Service of the Complaint-Summons by ordinary mail may be attempted by the court, by the law enforcement agency that prepared the complaint or by an agency or individual authorized by law to serve process.
  • (2) Service by ordinary mail shall have the same effect as personal service if the defendant contacts the court orally or in writing in response to or in acknowledgment of the service of the Complaint-Summons. Service by ordinary mail shall not be attempted until a court date for the first appearance has been set by the municipal court administrator, deputy court administrator, or other authorized court employee.
  • (3) If the court is provided with a different, updated address for the defendant, along with a postal verification or other proof satisfactory to the court that the defendant receives mail at that address, service of the Complaint-Summons may be re-attempted.
• (b) Simultaneous Service by Mail.
  
  • (1) If service is attempted by ordinary mail and the defendant does not appear in court on the first appearance date or does not contact the court orally or in writing by that date, the court subsequently shall send the Complaint-Summons simultaneously by ordinary mail and certified mail with return receipt requested to the defendant's last known mailing address. Service by simultaneous mailing shall not be attempted until a new court date for the first appearance has been set by the municipal court administrator, deputy court administrator, or other authorized court employee.
  • (2) When the Complaint-Summons is addressed and mailed to the defendant at a place of business or employment with postal instructions to deliver to addressee only, service will be deemed effective only if the signature on the return receipt appears to be that of the defendant to whom the Complaint-Summons was mailed.
  • (3) Consistent with due process of law, service by simultaneous mailing, as provided in Section (b)(1) of this rule, shall constitute effective service unless the mail is returned to the court by the postal service marked "Moved, Left No Address", "Attempted - Not Known", "No Such Number", "No Such Street", "Insufficient Address", "Not Deliverable as Addressed--Unable to Forward" or the court has other reason to believe that service was not effected. However, if the certified mail is returned to the court marked "Refused" or "Unclaimed," service is effective providing that the ordinary mail has not been returned.
  • (4) Process served by ordinary or certified mail with return receipt requested may be addressed to a post office box.
• (c) Notice to Prosecuting Attorney and Complaining Witness; Dismissal of Complaint.
  
  • (1) If the court has not obtained effective service over the defendant after attempting service by simultaneous mailing under section (b)(1) of this rule, the court shall provide written notice of that fact to the prosecuting attorney and the complaining witness.
  • (2) The case shall be eligible for dismissal unless within 45 days of the receipt of the written notice, the prosecuting attorney or the complaining witness provides the court with a different, updated address for the defendant, along with a postal verification or other proof satisfactory to the court that the defendant receives mail at that address.
  • (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule, nothing shall preclude the prosecuting attorney or other authorized person from attempting service in any lawful manner.
  • (4) If the prosecuting attorney and complaining witness do not respond to the court's written notice within 45 days or if the defendant is not otherwise served, the court may dismiss the case pursuant to R. 7:8-5.
• (d) Parking Offenses. A copy of the Uniform Traffic Ticket prepared and issued out of the presence of the defendant charging a parking offense may be served by affixing it to the vehicle involved in the violation.
• (e) Corporations, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations. A copy of the Uniform Traffic Ticket charging a corporation, partnership or unincorporated association with a violation of a statute or ordinance relating to motor vehicles may be served on the operator of the vehicle.
• (f) Return. The law enforcement officer serving a summons shall make return of the summons on or before the return date to the court before whom the summons is returnable.

Note: Former Rule 7:2-4 redesignated as Rule 7:2-5 and new Rule 7:2-4 (incorporating portions of former Rule 7:2-3) adopted July 28, 2004 to be effective September 1, 2004.