§ 1.20 Definitions of terms of general use in this chapter.\n Except where different meanings are expressly specified in subsequent\nprovisions of this chapter, the term definitions contained in section\n10.00 of the penal law are applicable to this chapter, and, in addition,\nthe following terms have the following meanings:\n 1. "Accusatory instrument" means: (a) an indictment, an indictment\nordered reduced pursuant to subdivision one-a of section 210.20 of this\nchapter, an information, a simplified information, a prosecutor's\ninformation, a superior court information, a misdemeanor complaint or a\nfelony complaint. Every accusatory instrument, regardless of the person\ndesignated therein as accuser, constitutes an accusation on behalf of\nthe state as plaintiff and must be entitled "the people of the state of\nNew York" against a designated person, known as the defendant; and\n (b) an appearance ticket issued for a parking infraction when (i) such\nticket is based on personal knowledge or information and belief of the\npolice officer or other public servant who issues the ticket, (ii) the\npolice officer or other public servant who issues such ticket verifies\nthat false statements made therein are punishable as a class A\nmisdemeanor, (iii) the infraction or infractions contained therein are\nstated in detail and not in conclusory terms so as to provide the\ndefendant with sufficient notice including, but not limited, to the\napplicable provision of law allegedly violated, and the date, time and\nparticular place of the alleged infraction, and (iv) such ticket\ncontains: (1) the license plate designation of the ticketed vehicle, (2)\nthe license plate type of the ticketed vehicle, (3) the expiration of\nthe ticketed vehicle's registration, (4) the make or model of the\nticketed vehicle, and (5) the body type of the ticketed vehicle,\nprovided, however, that where the plate type or the expiration date are\nnot shown on either the registration plates or sticker of a vehicle or\nwhere the registration sticker is covered, faded, defaced or mutilated\nso that it is unreadable, the plate type or the expiration date may be\nomitted, provided, further, however, that such condition must be so\ndescribed and inserted on the instrument.\n 2. "Local criminal court accusatory instrument" means any accusatory\ninstrument other than an indictment or a superior court information.\n 3. "Indictment" means a written accusation by a grand jury, more fully\ndefined and described in article two hundred, filed with a superior\ncourt, which charges one or more defendants with the commission of one\nor more offenses, at least one of which is a crime, and which serves as\na basis for prosecution thereof.\n 3-a. "Superior court information" means a written accusation by a\ndistrict attorney more fully defined and described in articles one\nhundred ninety-five and two hundred, filed with a superior court\npursuant to article one hundred ninety-five, which charges one or more\ndefendants with the commission of one or more offenses, at least one of\nwhich is a crime, and which serves as a basis for prosecution thereof.\n 4. "Information" means a verified written accusation by a person, more\nfully defined and described in article one hundred, filed with a local\ncriminal court, which charges one or more defendants with the commission\nof one or more offenses, none of which is a felony, and which may serve\nboth to commence a criminal action and as a basis for prosecution\nthereof.\n * 5. "Simplified traffic information" means a written accusation, more\nfully defined and described in article one hundred, by a police officer\nor other public servant authorized by law to issue same, filed with a\nlocal criminal court, which, being in a brief or simplified form\nprescribed by the commissioner of motor vehicles, charges a person with\none or more traffic infractions or misdemeanors relating to traffic, and\nwhich may serve both to commence a crim
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