Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 17. LOWER COURT PROCEEDINGS

Part 3. Procedure After Trial -- Justices' and City Courts

Deposit Of Fines -- Collection

46-17-303. Deposit of fines -- collection. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), all fines imposed and collected by the court must be paid to the appropriate treasurer of the county, city, or town within 30 days of receipt. The judge shall file a copy of any receipt given for a collected fine with the appropriate county, city, or town clerk.

(2) (a) The court may contract with a private person or entity for the collection of any final judgment that requires a payment to the court.

(b) In the event that a private person or entity is retained to collect a judgment, the court may assign the judgment to the private person or entity and the private person or entity may, as an assignee, institute suit or other lawful collection procedure and other postjudgment remedies in its own name.

(c) The court, after deducting the charges provided for in 46-18-236, may pay the private person or entity a reasonable fee for collecting the judgment. The fee incurred by the court must be added to the judgment amount.

(3) If the judgment is for a fine alone, execution may issue on the judgment for any unpaid interest accrued on the judgment, costs, and fees in collecting the fine as on a judgment in a civil case.

History: En. 95-2008 by Sec. 1, Ch. 196, L. 1967; R.C.M. 1947, 95-2008(part); amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 557, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 63, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 515, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 510, L. 2003.