§ 7-301. Court costs (Abrogation of amendment effective June 30, 2018.)

   (a) Traffic case. --

   (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the court costs in a traffic case, including parking and impounding cases, cases under § 21-202.1, § 21-809, § 21-810, § 21-1414, or § 24-111.3 of the Transportation Article in which costs are imposed, and cases under § 10-112 of the Criminal Law Article in which costs are imposed:

      (i) Are $ 22.50; and

      (ii) Shall also be applicable to those cases in which the defendant elects to waive the defendant's right to trial and pay the fine or penalty deposit established by the Chief Judge of the District Court by administrative regulation.

   (2) In an uncontested case under § 21-202.1, § 21-809, § 21-810, § 21-1414, or § 24-111.3 of the Transportation Article, an uncontested case under § 10-112 of the Criminal Law Article, or an uncontested parking or impounding case in which the fines are paid directly to a political subdivision or municipality, costs are $ 2.00, which costs shall be paid to and retained by the political subdivision or municipality.

   (3) (i) In an uncontested case in which the fine is paid directly to an agency of State government authorized by law to regulate parking of motor vehicles, the court costs are $ 2.00.

      (ii) The fine and the costs under this paragraph shall be paid to the agency, which shall receive and account for these funds as in all other cases involving sums due the State through a State agency.

(b) Criminal case. --

   (1) The court costs in a criminal case in which costs are imposed are $ 22.50.

   (2) The costs shall be in addition to any costs imposed in a criminal case under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act.

(c) Civil case. --

   (1) The filing fees and costs in a civil case are those prescribed by law subject to modification by law, rule, or administrative regulation.

   (2) The Chief Judge of the District Court shall assess a surcharge that:

      (i) May not be more than:

         1. $ 8 per summary ejectment case; and

         2. $ 18 per case for all other civil cases; and

      (ii) Shall be deposited into the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund established under § 11-402 of the Human Services Article.

   (3) (i) In addition to the surcharge assessed under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Chief Judge of the District Court shall assess a surcharge that may not be more than $ 10 per case for the following cases filed in Baltimore City:

         1. Summary ejectment;

         2. Tenant holding over;

         3. Breach of lease; and

         4. Warrant of restitution.

      (ii) The revenue generated from the surcharge on filing fees collected by the District Court in Baltimore City under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be:

         1. Remitted quarterly to the Baltimore City Director of Finance; and

         2. Used to fund the enhancement of sheriff benefits and the increase in sheriff personnel to enhance the service of domestic violence orders.

   (4) The Court of Appeals may provide by rule for waiver of prepayment of filing fees and other costs in cases of indigency.

(d) Additional costs for bad checks. -- When a person pays court costs or a fine with a check in any motor vehicle, criminal, or civil case in the District Court, and the check is returned to the court by the financial institution on which it is drawn because of insufficient funds in the account, or because the account has been closed or never existed, then the court may impose additional costs of $ 10 against the party issuing the check. These costs shall be in addition to any other penalty now prescribed by law.

(e) Payment into Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and Victim and Witness Protection and Relocation Fund. -- The Comptroller shall annually pay from the court costs collected by the District Court under subsections (a) and (b)(1) of this section:

   (1) $ 500,000 into the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established under § 11-819 of the Criminal Procedure Article; and

   (2) $ 125,000 into the Victim and Witness Protection and Relocation Fund established under § 11-905 of the Criminal Procedure Article.

(f) Payment into Charles W. Riley Fire and Emergency Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement Program, Maryland Emergency Medical Systems Operation Fund, and Volunteer Company Assistance Fund. --

   (1) This subsection does not apply to a traffic case under § 21-202.1, § 21-809, § 21-810, or § 21-1414 of the Transportation Article or to a parking or impounding case.

   (2) In a traffic case under subsection (a)(1) of this section the court shall add a $ 7.50 surcharge to any fine imposed by the court.

   (3) (i) The Comptroller annually shall credit the surcharges collected under this subsection as provided in this paragraph.

      (ii) An amount annually as set forth in the State budget shall be distributed for the Charles W. Riley Fire and Emergency Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement Program as established in § 18-603 of the Education Article.

      (iii) After the distribution under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, $ 200,000 shall be distributed to the Maryland State Firemen's Association.

      (iv) After the distribution under subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph and until a total of $ 20,000,000 has been distributed to the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund since the establishment of the surcharge under this subsection, the remainder shall be credited to the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund to be used in accordance with the provisions of Title 8, Subtitle 2 of the Public Safety Article.

      (v) After a total of $ 20,000,000 has been distributed to the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund, 100% of the remainder shall be credited to the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund established under § 13-955 of the Transportation Article.

      (vi) On or before September 1 of each year until $ 20,000,000 has been distributed to the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund, the State Court Administrator shall submit a report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, on the amount of revenue distributed to the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund under this paragraph.

HISTORY: 2010, ch. 486.