§1898. Collection and disposition of fines, forfeitures, penalties, and costs in city court

A. Except as otherwise provided by special law and in Subsection B of this Section, the clerk of the city court or the marshal, as designated by the judge, or a private collection agency as authorized by contract with the municipal governing authority, shall collect all fines, forfeitures, penalties, and costs, and all funds so collected by them, excluding costs, shall be paid into the city treasury when the prosecution is on behalf of the city and into the parish treasury to be deposited in the parish general fund and used as a general expenditure of the parish, in parishes other than Orleans, when the prosecution is on behalf of the state or parish. The amount of the debt shall not be reduced if collected by a private collection agency.

B. In the parish of Lincoln, except as otherwise provided by special laws, the clerk of the city court or the marshal, as designated by the judge, shall collect all fines, forfeitures, penalties, and costs, and all funds so collected by them, excluding costs, shall be paid into the city treasury when the prosecution is on behalf of the city, and into the parish treasury when the prosecution is on behalf of the state or parish.

C. The clerk of the city court or the marshal may accept payment by credit card or electronic check for all fines, forfeitures, penalties, and costs. The clerk of the city court or the marshal shall collect a fee for processing the payments in an amount that is reasonably related to the expense incurred by the clerk or marshal in processing the payment by credit card, not to exceed five percent of the amount of taxes and any penalties or interest being paid. The fee shall be in addition to the amount of fines, forfeitures, penalties, or costs.

Acts 1960, No. 32, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1961; Acts 1980, No. 829, §1; Acts 1990, No. 544, §1; Acts 2009, No. 200, §1; Acts 2014, No. 672, §1.