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Article 544 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

Sont applicables devant le tribunal de police les dispositions des articles 410 à 415 relatives à la comparution et à la représentation du prévenu et de la personne civilement responsable. However, where the offence being prosecuted is punishable only by a fine, the accused may be represented by a lawyer or by a person holding a special power of attorney. .

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Article 546 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The right to appeal lies with the accused, the person civilly liable, the public prosecutor, the public prosecutor and the officer of the public prosecutor’s office at the police court, when the fine incurred is that provided for fifth class offences, when the penalty provided for by 1° of Article 131-16 of the Penal Code has been imposed, or where the fine imposed is greater than the maximum fine incurred…

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Article 547 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

An appeal against police judgments shall be lodged with the Court of Appeal. This appeal is lodged within the time limits set out in articles 498 to 500. The appeal is heard and decided in the same way as appeals against criminal judgments. However, the court is composed solely of the president of the criminal appeals chamber, sitting as a single judge. Articles 502 to 504, paragraphs 1 and 2,…

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Article 549 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The provisions of articles 505 to 509, 511 and 514 to 520, are applicable to judgments handed down by the police courts. The court of appeal, hearing an appeal against a judgment that the police court lacks jurisdiction, if it finds that the act prosecuted constitutes a misdemeanour, shall impose the penalty and rule, if appropriate, on damages.

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Article 550 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

Subpoenas and service, unless otherwise provided by laws and regulations, shall be made by writ of bailiff. Notifications shall be made by administrative means. The bailiff may not instrument for himself, for his spouse, for his parents and relatives and those of his spouse, in the direct line ad infinitum, or for his relatives and relatives in the collateral line, up to and including the degree of cousin descending from…

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Article 551 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The summons is issued at the request of the public prosecutor, the civil party, and any administration that is legally empowered to do so. The bailiff must comply with their request without delay. The summons states the act being prosecuted and refers to the text of the law that punishes it. It indicates the court seised, the place, time and date of the hearing, and specifies the status of the…

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Article 552 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The period between the day on which the summons is issued and the day set for the appearance before the criminal or police court is at least ten days, if the party summoned resides in a department of metropolitan France or if, residing in an overseas department, he or she is summoned before a court in that department. This period is increased by one month if the party summoned before…

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