§ 16-92-118 - Fines -- Collection and deposit.
16-92-118. Fines -- Collection and deposit.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding 16-13-709, the quorum court of each county of this state may delegate the responsibility for the electronic collection of fines assessed in a circuit court of this state within that county to the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas.
(2) Fines collected in each circuit court by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas shall be remitted by the fifth working day of the following month to the county official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in that circuit court to be disbursed to the appropriate county fund, state entity, or state agency as provided by law.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding 16-13-709, the governing body or, if applicable and by mutual agreement, each governing body of a political subdivision that contributes to the expenses of a district court or the governing body of the city in which a city court is located may designate the responsibility for the electronic collection of fines assessed in that district court or that city court to the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas.
(2) Fines collected in each district court or each department of district court by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas shall be remitted by the fifth working day of the following month to the county or city official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in that district court to be disbursed under 16-17-707.
(c) Fines collected in each city court by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas shall be disbursed by the fifth working day of the following month to the city official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in that city court to be disbursed to the general fund or other city fund, state agency, or state entity as provided by law.
(d) (1) The Administrative Office of the Courts or the Information Network of Arkansas shall be allowed to charge an access fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for any electronic payment of a court-ordered fine by an approved credit card or debit card.
(2) The fee provided for in subsection (d)(1) of this section collected by the Administrative Office of the Courts shall be deposited by the fifth day of each month into the Judicial Fine Collection Enhancement Fund established by 16-13-712.
(e) (1) This section does not prohibit the county or city official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in a circuit court, district court, or city court of this state from the electronic collection of fines. The quorum court of each county may establish an access fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) to be charged by the county official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in a circuit court within that county for any electronic payment of a court-ordered fine by an approved credit card or debit card.
(3) The governing body or, if applicable and by mutual agreement, each governing body of a political subdivision that contributes to the expenses of a district court or the governing body of the city in which a city court is located, may establish an access fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) to be charged by the city or county official, agency, or department designated under 16-13-709 as primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in that district court or city court for any electronic payment of a court-ordered fine by an approved credit card or debit card.
(4) The fee provided for in subdivisions (e)(2) and (3) of this section collected by the designated county or city official, agency, or department shall be deposited by the tenth day of each month in the appropriate circuit court automation fund, district court automation fund, or city court automation fund established under 16-13-704 to be used solely for the purposes stated in that section.
(f) (1) The procedures established by this section apply to the assessment and collection of all monetary fines, however designated, imposed by circuit courts, district courts, or city courts for criminal convictions, traffic convictions, civil violations, and juvenile delinquency adjudications and shall be used to obtain prompt and full payment of all such fines.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term "fine" or "fines" means all monetary penalties imposed by the courts of this state, which include fines, court costs, restitution, probation fees, and public service work supervisory fees.