A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts:

1. (1) To accept defaults for petty offenses;
2. (2) To try contested cases involving a petty offense;
3. (3) To take pleas of guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere for any criminal offense; or
4. (4) To take pleas of guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere for violation of any ordinance, bylaw, or other police regulation of a political subdivision;

if the punishment is a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both such fine and imprisonment and to impose sentence upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. Acceptance of not guilty or nolo contendere pleas shall be in accordance with §§ 23A-7-2 and 23A-7-8, as applicable. A magistrate court with a magistrate judge presiding has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts to try cases for all violations under § 32-22-55 that involve civil penalties, notwithstanding the amount of the civil penalty.

Source: SL 2003, ch 117 , § 17; SL 2007, ch 135 , § 1, eff. Mar. 2, 2007; SL 2009, ch 103 , § 1.