§ 15A-1365. Judgment for fines docketed; lien and execution.
§15A‑1365. Judgment for fines docketed; lien and execution.
When a defendant has defaultedin payment of a fine or costs, the judge may order that the judgment bedocketed. Upon being docketed, the judgment becomes a lien on the real estateof the defendant in the same manner as do judgments in civil actions.Executions on docketed judgments may be stayed only when an appeal is taken andsecurity is given as required in civil cases. If the judgment is affirmed onappeal to the appellate division, the clerk of the superior court, on receiptof the certificate from the appellate division, must issue execution on thejudgment. The clerk may not issue an execution, however, if the fine or costswere imposed for an offense other than trafficking in controlled substances orconspiring to traffic in controlled substances under G.S. 90‑95(h) and(i), respectively, and the defendant elects to serve the suspended sentence, ifany, or serve a term of 30 days, if no suspended sentence was imposed. (1977,c. 711, s. 1; 1985, c. 411.)