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SB618 SUB1 Senate Bill 618 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 618

(By Senators Snyder, Beach and Browning)

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[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;

reported February 24, 2012.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §8-10-2a and §8-10-2b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §50-3-2a of said code, all relating to failure to pay costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties imposed when charged with a motor vehicle or criminal violation; and requiring municipal courts and magistrate courts to wait at least ninety days from the date that all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties are due in full, or the date of the failure to appear, before notifying the Division of Motor Vehicles of that person’s failure to pay or failure to appear.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §8-10-2a and §8-10-2b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that §50-3-2a of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 8. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.

ARTICLE 10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

§8-10-2a. Payment of fines by credit cards or payment plan; suspension of driver's license for failure to pay motor vehicle violation fines or to appear in court.

    (a) A municipal court may accept credit cards in payment of all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties. A municipal court may collect a substantial portion of all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties at the time such amount is imposed by the court so long as the court requires the balance to be paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of judgment and in accordance with a payment plan: Provided, That all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties imposed by the municipal court upon a nonresident of this state by judgment entered upon a conviction for a motor vehicle violation defined in section three-a, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code must be paid within eighty days from the date of judgment. The payment plan shall specify: (1) The number of additional payments to be made; (2) the dates on which such payments and amounts shall be made; and (3) amounts due on such dates.

    (b) If costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties imposed by the municipal court for motor vehicle violations as defined in section three-a, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code are not paid within the time limits imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, or if a person fails to appear or otherwise respond in court when charged with a motor vehicle violation as defined in section three-a, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, the municipal court must notify the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles of such failure to pay or failure to appear: Provided, That the municipal court shall wait at least ninety days from the date that all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties are due in full or, for failure to appear or otherwise respond, ninety days from the date of such failure before notifying the Division of Motor Vehicles thereof.

§8-10-2b. Suspension of licenses for failure to pay fines and costs or failure to appear in court.

    (a) If costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties imposed by the municipal court upon conviction of a person for a criminal offense as defined in section three-c, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code are not paid in full within one hundred eighty days of the judgment, the municipal court clerk or, upon a judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay: Provided, That for residents of this state, the municipal court shall wait at least ninety days from the date that all costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties are due in full before notifying the Division of Motor Vehicles thereof: Provided, however, That at the time the judgment is imposed, the judge shall provide the person with written notice that failure to pay the same as ordered may result in the withholding of any income tax refund due the licensee and shall result in the suspension of the person's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state and that the suspension could result in the cancellation of, the failure to renew or the failure to issue an automobile insurance policy providing coverage for the person or the person's family: Provided however further, That the failure of the judge to provide notice does not affect the validity of any suspension of the person's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state. For purposes of this section, payment shall be stayed during any period an appeal from the conviction which resulted in the imposition of costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties is pending.

    Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the person's driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state until such time that the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties are paid.

    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, the notice of the failure to pay costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties may not be given where the municipal court, upon application of the person upon whom the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties were imposed filed prior to the expiration of the period within which these are required to be paid, enters an order finding that the person is financially unable to pay all or a portion of the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties: Provided, That where the municipal court, upon finding that the person is financially unable to pay a portion of the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties, requires the person to pay the remaining portion, the municipal court shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the person's failure to pay if not paid within the period of time ordered by the court.

    (c) If a person charged with a criminal offense fails to appear or otherwise respond in court, the municipal court clerk shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles within fifteen days of the scheduled date to appear unless the person sooner appears or otherwise responds in court to the satisfaction of the judge of the failure to appear: Provided, That for residents of this state, the municipal court clerk shall wait at least ninety days from the date of the person’s failure to appear or otherwise respond before notifying the Division of Motor Vehicles thereof. Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the person's driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state until such time that the person appears as required.

    (d) On and after July 1, 2008, if the licensee fails to respond to the Division of Motor Vehicles order of suspension within ninety days of receipt of the certified letter, the municipal court of original jurisdiction shall notify the Tax Commissioner that the licensee has failed to pay the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties assessed by the court or has failed to respond to the citation. The notice provided by the municipal court to the Tax Commissioner must include the licensee’s social security number. The Tax Commissioner, or his or her designee, shall withhold from any personal income tax refund due and owing to a licensee the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties due to the municipality, the Tax Commissioner’s administration fee for the withholding and any and all fees that the municipal court would have collected had the licensee appeared: Provided, That the Tax Commissioner’s administration fee may not exceed $25: Provided, however, That the Tax Commissioner may change this maximum amount limitation for this fee for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2008, by legislative rule promulgated in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code: Provided further, That the administrative fees deducted shall be deposited in the special revolving fund hereby created in the State Treasury, which shall be designated as the “municipal fines and fees collection fund”, and the Tax Commissioner shall make such expenditures from the fund as he or she deems appropriate for the administration of this subsection. After deduction of the Tax Commissioner’s administration fee, the Tax Commissioner shall remit to the municipality all remaining amounts withheld pursuant to this section and the municipal court shall distribute applicable costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties owed to the municipality, the Regional Jail Authority Fund, the Crime Victims Compensation Fund, the Community Corrections Fund, the Governor’s subcommittee on law-enforcement training or any other fund or payee that may be applicable. After the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties are withheld, the Tax Commissioner shall refund any remaining balance due the licensee. If the refund is not sufficient to cover all the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties being withheld pursuant to this section, the Tax Commissioner’s administration fee shall be retained by the Tax Commissioner and the remaining money withheld shall be remitted by the Tax Commissioner to the municipality. The municipality shall then allocate the money so remitted to the municipality in the following manner: (1) Any costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties due to the municipality; (2) seventy-five percent of the remaining balance shall be paid to the appropriate Regional Jail Authority Fund; (3) fifteen percent of the remaining balance shall be paid to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund; (4) six percent of the remaining balance shall be paid into the Community Corrections Fund; and (5) the final four percent shall be paid to the Governor’s subcommittee on law-enforcement training. When the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties exceed the licensee’s income tax refund, the Tax Commissioner shall withhold the remaining balance in subsequent years until such time as the costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties owed are paid in full. The Tax Commissioner shall remit the moneys that he or she collects to the appropriate municipality no later than July 1, of each year. If the municipal court or the municipality subsequently determines that any such costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties were erroneously imposed, the municipality shall promptly notify the Tax Commissioner. If the refunds have not been withheld and remitted, the Tax Commissioner may not withhold and remit payment to the municipality and shall so inform the municipality. If the refunds have already been withheld and remitted to the municipality, the Tax Commissioner shall so inform the municipality. In either event, all refunds for erroneously imposed costs, fines, forfeitures or penalties shall be made by the municipality and not by the Tax Commissioner.

    (e) Rules and effective date. –- The Tax Commissioner may promulgate such rules as may be useful or necessary to carry out the purpose of this section and to implement the intent of the Legislature, to be effective on July 1, 2008. Rules shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.

    (f) On or before July 1, 2005, the municipal court may elect to reissue notice as provided in subsections (a) and (c) of this section to the Division of Motor Vehicles for persons who remain noncompliant: Provided, That the person was convicted or failed to appear on or after January 1, 1993. If the original notification cannot be located, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall accept an additional or duplicate notice from the municipal court clerk.

CHAPTER 50. MAGISTRATE COURTS.

ARTICLE 3. COSTS, FINES AND RECORDS.

§50-3-2a. Payment by credit card or payment plan; suspension of licenses for failure to make payments or appear or respond; restitution; liens.

    (a) A magistrate court may accept credit cards in payment of all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals. Any charges made by the credit company shall be paid by the person responsible for paying the cost, fine, forfeiture or penalty.

    (b) Unless otherwise required by law, a magistrate court may collect a portion of any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties at the time the amount is imposed by the court so long as the court requires the balance to be paid in accordance with a payment plan which specifies: (1) The number of payments to be made; (2) the dates on which the payments are due; and (3) the amounts due for each payment. The written agreement represents the minimum payments and the last date those payments may be made. The obligor or the obligor’s agent may accelerate the payment schedule at any time by paying any additional portion of any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties.

    (c) (1) If any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed by the magistrate court in a criminal case are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the magistrate court clerk or, upon judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay: Provided, That in a criminal case in which a nonresident of this state is convicted of a motor vehicle violation defined in section three-a, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, the appropriate clerk shall notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the failure to pay within eighty days from the date of judgment and expiration of any stay of execution. Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend any privilege the person defaulting on payment may have to operate a motor vehicle in this state, including any driver's license issued to the person by the Division of Motor Vehicles, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties are paid in full. The suspension shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of section six, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code: Provided, That any person who has had his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this state suspended pursuant to this subsection and his or her failure to pay is based upon inability to pay, may, if he or she is employed on a full or part-time basis, petition to the circuit court for an order authorizing him or her to operate a motor vehicle solely for employment purposes. Upon a showing satisfactory to the court of inability to pay, employment and compliance with other applicable motor vehicle laws, the court shall issue an order granting relief.

    (2) In addition to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, if any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed or ordered by the magistrate court for a hunting violation described in chapter twenty of this code are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the magistrate court clerk or, upon a judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Director of the Division of Natural Resources of the failure to pay. Upon notice, the Director of the Division of Natural Resources shall suspend any privilege the person failing to appear or otherwise respond may have to hunt in this state, including any hunting license issued to the person by the Division of Natural Resources, until all the costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties are paid in full.

    (3) In addition to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, if any costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed or ordered by the magistrate court for a fishing violation described in chapter twenty of this code are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the magistrate court clerk or, upon a judgment rendered on appeal, the circuit clerk shall notify the Director of the Division of Natural Resources of the failure to pay. Upon notice, the Director of the Division of Natural Resources shall suspend any privilege the person failing to appear or otherwise respond may have to fish in this state, including any fishing license issued to the person by the Division of Natural Resources, until all the costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties are paid in full.

    (d) (1) If a person charged with any criminal violation of this code fails to appear or otherwise respond in court, the magistrate court shall notify the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles: thereof within fifteen ninety days of the scheduled date to appear unless the person sooner appears or otherwise responds in court to the satisfaction of the magistrate. Upon notice, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall suspend any privilege the person failing to appear or otherwise respond may have to operate a motor vehicle in this state, including any driver's license issued to the person by the Division of Motor Vehicles, until final judgment in the case and, if a judgment of guilty, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed are paid in full. The suspension shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of section six, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code.

    (2) In addition to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, if a person charged with any hunting violation described in chapter twenty of this code fails to appear or otherwise respond in court, the magistrate court shall notify the Director of the Division of Natural Resources of the failure thereof within fifteen days of the scheduled date to appear unless the person sooner appears or otherwise responds in court to the satisfaction of the magistrate. Upon notice, the Director of the Division of Natural Resources shall suspend any privilege the person failing to appear or otherwise respond may have to hunt in this state, including any hunting license issued to the person by the Division of Natural Resources, until final judgment in the case and, if a judgment of guilty, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed are paid in full.

    (3) In addition to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, if a person charged with any fishing violation described in chapter twenty of this code fails to appear or otherwise respond in court, the magistrate court shall notify the Director of the Division of Natural Resources of the failure thereof within fifteen days of the scheduled date to appear unless the person sooner appears or otherwise responds in court to the satisfaction of the magistrate. Upon notice, the Director of the Division of Natural Resources shall suspend any privilege the person failing to appear or otherwise respond may have to fish in this state, including any fishing license issued to the person by the Division of Natural Resources, until final judgment in the case and, if a judgment of guilty, until all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed are paid in full.

    (e) In every criminal case which involves a misdemeanor violation, a magistrate may order restitution where appropriate when rendering judgment.

    (f) (1) If all costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties imposed by a magistrate court and ordered to be paid are not paid within one hundred eighty days from the date of judgment and the expiration of any stay of execution, the clerk of the magistrate court shall notify the prosecuting attorney of the county of nonpayment and provide the prosecuting attorney with an abstract of judgment. The prosecuting attorney shall file the abstract of judgment in the office of the clerk of the county commission in the county where the defendant was convicted and in any county wherein the defendant resides or owns property. The clerks of the county commissions shall record and index the abstracts of judgment without charge or fee to the prosecuting attorney and when so recorded, the amount stated to be owing in the abstract shall constitute a lien against all property of the defendant.

    (2) When all the costs, fines, fees, forfeitures, restitution or penalties described in subdivision (1) of this subsection for which an abstract of judgment has been recorded are paid in full, the clerk of the magistrate court shall notify the prosecuting attorney of the county of payment and provide the prosecuting attorney with a release of judgment, prepared in accordance with the provisions of section one, article twelve, chapter thirty-eight of this code, for filing and recordation pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Upon receipt from the clerk, the prosecuting attorney shall file the release of judgment in the office of the clerk of the county commission in each county where an abstract of the judgment was recorded. The clerks of the county commissions shall record and index the release of judgment without charge or fee to the prosecuting attorney.




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    (NOTE: Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)

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