Poverty Penalties and Poverty Traps

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Below are the poverty penalties and poverty traps that meet your search criteria. Many include a See related provisions prompt which searches our database for laws that may pertain to your result.

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State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Type of poverty penalty or poverty trap Level of offense Mandatory
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Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws § 774.28 Neglecting to pay fine or costs; action by county treasurer; neglecting to pay over fine to county treasurer as misdemeanor; punishment; judge to keep exact record of proceedings; liability.
(1) If a person who has received a fine or costs or any part of a fine or costs, neglects to pay the money pursuant to section 22 or 26
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of this chapter, the county treasurer immediately shall commence an action for the unpaid amount, in the name of the people of this state, and shall prosecute the case diligently to effect. (2) A person who neglects to pay over a fine to the county treasurer within 60 days after receiving the fine, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $100.00, or imprisonment for not less than 30 nor more than 90 days, or both.
Increased fine All Yes
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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-08(2) Hearing prior to ordering restitution, reparation, or reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Conditions--Collection of restitution for insufficient funds checks--Continuing appropriation
When the restitution ordered by the court under subsection 1 is the result of a finding that the defendant issued a check or draft without sufficient funds or without an
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account, the court shall impose as costs the greater of the sum of ten dollars or an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the amount of restitution ordered. The costs imposed under this subsection, however, may not exceed one thousand dollars. The state-employed clerks of district court shall remit the funds collected as costs under this subsection to the state treasurer for deposit in the restitution collection assistance fund. The funds deposited into the restitution collection assistance fund are appropriated to the judicial branch on a continuing basis for the purpose of defraying expenses incident to the collection of restitution, including operating expenses and the compensation of additional necessary personnel. The state's attorneys and county-employed clerks of district court shall remit the funds collected as costs under this subsection to the county treasurer to be deposited in the county general fund.
Increased fine All Yes
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North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 29-07-01.1 Payment of expenses for defense of indigents--Reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses--Indigent defense administration fund--Continuing appropriation If the application fee is not paid before disposition of the case, the fee amount must be added to the amount to be reimbursed under this section. Increased fine All Yes
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Louisiana LA Rev Stat § 32:57.1(A)-(B) Failure to appear for traffic citation
Whenever an arrested person who was released on his written promise to appear before a magistrate at the place and time specified in a summons described in R.S. 32:391(B) [traffic
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offense summons] fails to honor his written promise to appear, the magistrate or judge of the court exercising jurisdiction shall [be required to make a] . . .payment of an additional fifty dollars to the department,
Increased fine Traffic Yes
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Alabama Ala.Code 1975 § 12-19-311(c) Additional fees on bail bond

Upon the failure to pay the fee in paragraph a. of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) and upon a finding of contempt in subsection (d), the bondsman, surety, guaranty, or

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individuals required to pay the fee shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) in addition to the fee imposed in paragraph a. of subdivision (1) of subsection (a). The fine shall not be remitted, waived, or reduced unless the person(s) fined can show cause to the court that he or she cannot pay the fine in the reasonably foreseeable future. I

Increased fine All Yes
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Delaware 10 Del. C. § 8709 Neglect or Refusal to Pay Fees; Penalty

Whoever neglects or refuses to pay the fees provided for in §§ 8707 and 8708 of this title, for any service performed within 10 days after written demand from the officer

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to whom such fees are due, shall be fined $ 10 besides costs of suit.

Increased fine All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §901.31 Failure to obey written promise to appear

Any person who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required by a written notice to appear shall be fined not more than the fine of

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the principal charge or imprisoned up to the maximum sentence of imprisonment of the principal charge, or both, regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which the person was originally arrested. Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the court from exercising its power to punish for contempt.

Increased fine All Yes
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Florida Fla. Stat. §903.105 Appearance bonds

Any person who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required by a written notice to appear shall be fined not more than the fine of

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the principal charge or imprisoned up to the maximum sentence of imprisonment of the principal charge, or both, regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which the person was originally arrested. Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the court from exercising its power to punish for contempt.

Increased fine All Yes
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Colorado C.R.S. 16-18.5-105(2);(3) Monitoring - Default - Penalties

(2)   In addition to any other costs that may accrue, for each payment of restitution that a defendant fails to make within seven days after the date that the payment

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is due pursuant to any payment schedule established pursuant to this article, the late penalty fee established in section 16-11-101.6 shall be assessed, and the associated provisions of section 16-11-101.6 may apply. The late fees shall be collected from the defendant after the defendant has satisfied all orders for restitution. All payments for late fees shall be credited to the judicial collection enhancement fund created in section 16-11-101.6 (2). (3)   Whenever a defendant fails to make a payment of restitution within seven days after the date that the payment is due pursuant to a payment schedule established pursuant to this article, in addition to any other remedy, the collections investigator may: (a)  Conduct an additional financial investigation of the defendant as described in section 16-18.5-104 (3); (b)  Issue an attachment of earnings requiring that a certain portion of a defendant's earnings, not to exceed fifty percent, be withheld and applied to any unpaid restitution, if such an attachment does not adversely impact the defendant's ability to comply with other orders of the court. An attachment of earnings under this paragraph (b) may be modified to a lesser or greater amount based upon changes in a defendant's circumstances as long as the amount withheld does not exceed fifty percent and may be suspended or cancelled at the court's discretion. An attachment of earnings issued pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be enforceable in the same manner as a garnishment in a civil action. For purposes of this section, "earnings" shall have the same meaning as set forth for any type of garnishment in section 13-54.5-101, C.R.S., and shall include profits. (c)  Request that the clerk of the court issue a writ of execution, writ of attachment, or other civil process to collect upon a judgment pursuant to article 52 of title 13, C.R.S.; (d)  Request that the court issue a notice to show cause requiring the defendant to appear before the court and show cause why the required payment or payments were not made. Upon a finding of the defendant's failure to pay, unless the defendant establishes that he or she was unable to make the payments, the court may: (I)  Revoke probation and impose any other sentence permitted by law; (II)  Order that the defendant be confined to jail with a recommendation that the defendant participate in a work release program; (III)  Extend the period of probation; or (IV)  Find the defendant in contempt of court and impose any authorized penalties for such action. (e) (I)  Employ any method available to collect state receivables, including the assignment of the defendant's accounts to a third party that has an agreement with the judicial department under this paragraph (e). (II)  The judicial department may enter into agreements with third parties for collection-related services. Any fees or costs of the third parties shall be added to the amount of restitution owed by the defendant, but such fees and costs shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the amount collected.

Increased fine All Yes
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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-103 Pay-Only Probation; Discharge or Termination of Probation

(a)  As used in this Code section, the term "pay-only probation" means a defendant has been placed under probation supervision solely because such defendant is unable to pay the court imposed

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fines and statutory surcharges when such defendant's sentence is imposed. Such term shall not include circumstances when restitution has been imposed or other probation services are deemed appropriate by the court; (b)  When pay-only probation is imposed, the total maximum fee collected shall be capped so as not to exceed three months of ordinary probation supervision fees at a monthly rate not to exceed the rate set forth in the contract between the court and the provider of services, notwithstanding the number of cases for which a fine and statutory surcharge were imposed or that the defendant was sentenced to serve consecutive sentences; provided, however, that collection of such fee shall terminate as soon as all court imposed fines and statutory surcharges are paid in full; and provided, further, that when all such fines and statutory surcharges are paid in full, the probation officer or private probation officer, as the case may be, shall submit an order to the court terminating the probated sentence within 30 days of fulfillment of such conditions. Within 90 days of receiving such order, the court shall issue an order terminating such probated sentence or issue an order stating why such probated sentence shall continue; (c)  If pay-only probation is subsequently converted to a sentence that requires community service, on petition by a probation officer or private probation officer and with the probationer having an opportunity for a hearing, the court may reinstate probation supervision fees as necessary to monitor the probationer's compliance with community service obligations; (d)  When a defendant is serving pay-only probation, upon motion by the defendant, the court may discharge such defendant from further supervision or otherwise terminate probation when it is satisfied that its action would be in the best interest of justice and the welfare of society.

Increased fine All Yes
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Iowa Iowa Code § 665.4 Contempts: Punishment

The punishment for contempt, where not otherwise specifically provided, shall be:

1. In the supreme court or the court of appeals, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or by

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imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

2. Before district judges, district associate judges, and associate juvenile judges by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

3. Before judicial magistrates, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding thirty days.

Increased fine All Yes
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Georgia Ga. Code Ann. § 40-6-189(a)-(c) Classification as Super Speeder; Fees

(a)  As used in this Code section, the term "department" means the Department of Driver Services;  (b)  In addition to any other fines or penalties imposed by any local jurisdiction or the

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department, the department shall administer and collect a fee of $200.00 from any driver who is convicted of driving at a speed of 85 miles per hour or more on any road or highway or 75 miles per hour or more on any two-lane road or highway, as defined in Code Section 40-6-187. Such a driver, upon conviction, shall be classified as a "super speeder;"  (c)  The department shall notify offenders of the imposition of a fee under this Code section within 30 days after receipt of a qualifying ticket and notice of conviction. Failure to pay the fee imposed by this Code section within 90 days after receipt of the notice shall result in the suspension of the driver's license or driving privileges of the offender, and, in addition to the existing fees and penalties, a fee of $50.00 shall be assessed, payable upon the application for reinstatement of the driver's license or driving privileges. Notice shall be provided by the department to the offender by first-class mail to the address shown on the records of the department. Such mailed notice shall be adequate notification of the fee imposed by this Code section and of the offender's ability to avoid a driver's license suspension by paying the fee prior to the effective date of the suspension. No other notice shall be required to make the driver's license suspension effective.

Driver's license suspension/impoundment, Increased fine Traffic Yes
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Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 31 Default Warrant for Failure to Pay — Additional Fees — Payment to Court's Administrative Office.

Whenever a court issues a default warrant solely due to the person’s failure to pay a fine, assessment, court cost, restitution, support payment or other amount as ordered by the

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court or required by law, the court shall specify the amount owed, including an additional assessment of $50 which assessment may be waived by the court upon a finding of good cause or upon a finding that such an assessment would cause a substantial financial hardship to the person, the person’s immediate family or the person’s dependents, with a statement that the warrant against the person may be discharged upon payment of the amount and the assessment, if any, and shall note the same in the warrant management system. The administrative office of the trial court shall accept payment of such fine, assessment, court cost, restitution, support payment or other amount as ordered by the court, along with any assessment, to be remitted by mail, telephone or other electronic means, in any form deemed acceptable by the trial court. Upon receipt of payment, the warrant against the person shall be discharged, the discharge shall be noted in the warrant management system and the individual shall receive notice of the discharge within seven days.

Incarceration, Increased fine All Yes
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Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2206.01 Fine and costs; payment of installments; violation; penalty

Installments provided for in section 29-2206 shall be paid pursuant to the order entered by the court or magistrate. Any person who fails to comply with the terms of such order shall

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be liable for punishment for contempt, unless such person has the leave of the court or magistrate in regard to such noncompliance or such person requests a hearing pursuant to section 29-2412 and establishes at such hearing that he or she is financially unable to pay.

Incarceration, Increased fine All Yes
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Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. § 1.202(1) Fee for establishing and administering account for judgment that includes monetary obligation; fee for judgment referred for collection

(1) All circuit courts and appellate courts of this state, and all commissions, departments and divisions in the judicial branch of state government, shall add a fee of not less than

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$ 50 and not more than $ 200 to any judgment that includes a monetary obligation that the court or judicial branch is charged with collecting. The fee shall cover the cost of establishing and administering an account for the debtor and shall be added without further notice to the debtor or further order of the court. The fee shall be added only if the court gives the defendant a period of time in which to pay the obligation after the financial obligation is imposed. Fees under this subsection shall be deposited in the General Fund.

(2) All circuit courts and appellate courts of this state, and all commissions, departments and divisions in the judicial branch of state government, that use private collection agencies, the Department of Revenue or an offset of federal tax refunds pursuant to an agreement entered into under ORS 1.196 shall add a fee to any judgment referred for collection that includes a monetary obligation that the state court or the commission, department or division is charged with collecting. A fee to cover the costs of collecting judgments referred to the private collection agency, the Department of Revenue, the United States Financial Management Service or the Internal Revenue Service shall be added to the monetary obligation without further notice to the debtor or further order of the court. The fee may not exceed the actual costs of collecting the judgment.

Collection fee/interest, Increased fine All Yes
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Texas Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 133.103(a) Time Payment fee

A person convicted of an offense shall pay, in addition to all other costs, a fee of $25 if the person:(1) has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; and

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(2) pays any part of a fine, court costs, or restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution.

Increased fine All Yes
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Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 7.68.035(3) PenPenalty assessments in addition to fine or bail forfeiture — Distribution — Establishment of crime victim and witness programs in county — Contribution required from cities and towns

When any person accused of having committed a crime posts bail in superior court pursuant to the provisions of chapter 10.19 RCW and such bail is forfeited, there shall be

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deducted from the proceeds of such forfeited bail a penalty assessment, in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed by law, equal to the assessment which would be applicable under subsection (1) of this section if the person had been convicted of the crime.

Increased fine All Yes