The Village of Spring Valley Board has approved moving forward with a new system that would allow motorists to receive plea bargain offers by mail, potentially eliminating the need to appear in person to meet with a prosecutor.

Under the proposed process, a motorist who receives a traffic ticket would be able to return the ticket with a not-guilty plea and, when eligible, receive a plea offer through the mail.

The system, already used by a number of other municipalities, is intended to make the process more convenient while reducing unnecessary trips, waiting times and administrative headaches for motorists and village officials.

Village officials said the board has approved beginning the process of implementing the program and are hopeful the new system will prove successful.