IT IS THE GENERAL POLICY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT STATE RECORDS RELATING TO CONVICTIONS, FORFEITURES OF BAIL, OR ANY EQUIVALENT ACTION BE PART OF THE STATE CENTRAL TRAFFIC RECORD, PARTICULARLY THE DRIVER RECORDS. THIS WILL REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF AUTHORITY, SUPERVISION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ALL COURTS TRYING TRAFFIC CASES, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFIED POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAMS BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TRAFFIC COURTS. A COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC COURT PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING: JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION, STATE COURT ADMINISTRATION, UNIFORM RULES OF TRAFFIC COURT PROCEDURES, COURT FACILITIES, PERSONNEL SELECTION AND AVAILABILITY, MANUALS AND GUIDES, MANDATORY APPEARANCE, CERTIFICATION OF PRIOR PENALTIES, RANGE OF AVAILABLE PENALTIES, REPORTING OF MOVING TRAFFIC CONVICTIONS AND JUDICIAL STATISTICS, TRAFFIC COURT FINANCES, JUDICIAL EDUCATION, AND UNIFORM PENALTIES. IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A PROGRAM MAY REQUIRE CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION, LEGISLATIVE ACTION, OR PROMULGATION OF COURT RULES. ADDITIONAL PLANS, IF NECESSARY, SHOULD BE FORMULATED TO ENSURE PROMPT AND IMPARTIAL PROCEEDINGS FOR ALLEGED OFFENDERS. ANNUAL PROGRAM EVALUATION IS ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE FULFILLMENT OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND TO IDENTIFY PROGRAM NEEDS. A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE INVENTORY OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM AND ITS COMPONENT PARTS IS RECOMMENDED. INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL EVALUATIONS SHOULD PROVIDE A BASIS FOR A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROGRESS TOWARD REACHING PROGRAM GOALS. FURTHER, MEANINGFUL PROGRAM INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE STATUS REPORTS ON THE TRAFFIC COURTS AND THE PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. SUCCESSFUL PLANNING WILL ALSO REQUIRE PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, A LOCAL TRAFFIC COURTS STUDY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL COURT PLANS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE HIGHWAY SAFETY STANDARD 7, A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH ABSTRACTS, AND A LISTING OF MODEL PROJECTS AND RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS. (JAP)