Title 7. Costs, Fines, and Forfeitures — Subtitle 5. Fines and Forfeitures

“Crime” means any act or omission for which a statute or ordinance imposes a fine or imprisonment.

“Crime” does not include a municipal infraction under Title 6 of the Local Government Article.

“Fine” means the monetary penalty prescribed by a statute or ordinance for a crime.

“Fine” does not include costs.

When the court imposes sentence; or

In specified installments at designated intervals.

If a fine is payable in installments, the court may order that the payments be made to a probation agency or officer.

The probation agency or officer shall report to the court a failure to comply with the order.

May order that the individual be committed to a correctional facility;

May reduce the fine to an amount that the court determines the defendant is able to pay; or

Subject to subsection (d) of this section, may direct that the individual be imprisoned until payment of:

Subject to the limitations in this subsection, the court shall determine the period of imprisonment for default in payment of a fine.

The period of imprisonment may not exceed:

The period of imprisonment, when added to the original sentence, may not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment allowed for the crime.

Each period of imprisonment imposed because of nonpayment of two or more fines shall run concurrently unless the court specifies that the periods of imprisonment shall run consecutively.

The District Court or a circuit court may authorize the clerk of the court to approve an individual installment plan agreement in accordance with this section for the payment of:

A defendant who agrees to enter into an installment plan agreement for the payment of one or more citations under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection consents to conviction at the time of the agreement.

A defendant who is sentenced to pay one or more fines that total at least $150 and certifies that the defendant is unable to pay the fine or fines may apply to the clerk of the court to make installment payments in accordance with this section.

An installment plan agreement under this section shall:

As a condition of an installment plan agreement, a defendant who enters into the agreement shall inform the clerk of the court of any change of address during the term of the agreement.

This section does not apply to Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

This section does not apply to fines imposed in gambling cases in Baltimore County.

50% to the clerk of the circuit court, to be used under the direction of the judges of the circuit court to augment the court library; and

5% to the clerk of the circuit court as a commission.

In Calvert County, if the County Administrative Circuit Court Judge determines that the amount under subsection (b)(1) of this section exceeds the needs of the library, excess amounts may be used for other needs of the Circuit Court for Calvert County if the Judge provides the County Commissioners with an annual report documenting how the excess amount is used.

In Carroll County, in addition to the amount under subsection (b) of this section, the County Commissioners shall appropriate and pay to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Carroll County $1,800, plus any additional amount that the County Commissioners determine, for library support and maintenance, including books and library equipment, to be used under the direction of the judges of the Circuit Court for Carroll County.

In Cecil County:

In Charles County, in any year in which the amount under subsection (b) of this section is less than $3,000, the County Commissioners shall pay to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County the amount necessary to bring the total to $3,000, plus any amount the County Commissioners determine is reasonable for library maintenance, to be used under the direction of the judges of the Circuit Court for Charles County, who reside in the county.

In Harford County, the local governing body shall appropriate and pay to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County, to be used under the direction of the judges of the court:

In Somerset County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Somerset County shall transmit monthly the amount under subsection (b)(1) of this section to a special account known as the Court and Bar Library Account.

In Worcester County, in addition to the amount under subsection (b) of this section, the County Commissioners shall appropriate and pay to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Worcester County $2,000 and any additional amount that the Commissioners set for library support and maintenance to be used under the direction of the judges of the Circuit Court for Worcester County.