In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Costs” means the cost of prosecuting a person for a crime. “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.

A person who is found guilty of a crime shall be liable for the costs of the person’s prosecution.

When a court imposes a fine, the court may order the defendant to pay the fine: 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. If a court sentences a defendant to probation, the court may make payment of a fine a condition of the sentence.

A defendant who is unable to pay a fine ordered by a court may apply to the court for a reduction of the fine. If a defendant fails or is unable to pay a fine as ordered by a court, the court may investigate the reasons for the failure or inability to pay the fine, including the defendant’s financial and family situation and whether nonpayment of the fine is contumacious or is due to indigence. After an investigation that a court considers necessary as to the reasons for the failure or inability to pay a fine, the court: 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: The fine; or Part of the fine that is undischarged after a pro rata credit for time served instead of payment. 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: 1 day for each $10 of the fine; and If the fine was imposed for a crime subject to punishment by imprisonment, one-third of the maximum term authorized by the statute or ordinance under which the individual was convicted, or 90 days, whichever is less; or If the fine was imposed for a crime that is not subject to punishment by imprisonment, absent default in payment of a fine, 15 days. 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.

This section applies to a defendant who is required to pay a fine for one or more traffic offenses, including one or more citations for a violation of a parking ordinance or regulation adopted under Title 26, Subtitle 3 of the Transportation Article. 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: One or more citations for a payable violation issued under § 26–201 of the Transportation Article; or One or more fines imposed at a hearing or trial by the court. 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: Require that the defendant make installment payments on the total amount of the fine or fines covered by the agreement; and Specify the offenses and citations to which the agreement applies. 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. If a defendant fails to pay a fine in accordance with an installment plan agreement under this section, the clerk of the court may: Refer the amount of the unpaid outstanding fine to the Central Collection Unit of the Department of Budget and Management; or Process the unpaid outstanding fine as it would other outstanding fines owed the court. The clerk of the court shall provide notice to the defendant of the disposition of the unpaid outstanding fine under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in the same manner required for other outstanding fines processed in the same manner. The requirements of subsection (c) of this section shall be posted in the clerk’s office and on the website of the court.

Unpaid and undischarged fines and unpaid costs may be levied, executed on, and collected in the same manner as judgments in civil cases. Costs are not part of the penalty, and a defendant may not be imprisoned under this subtitle for failure to pay costs.

Except as provided in § 7-302 of this title, in § 7-507 of this subtitle, or, as otherwise provided by law, fines, penalties, and forfeitures that are recovered shall be paid to the county in which the crime occurred. No portion of any fine, penalty, or forfeiture may be paid to an informer.

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. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the fines imposed by and recognizances forfeited to each circuit court shall be distributed as follows: 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 any year in which the amount provided to the court library under subsection (b) of this section and the attorney appearance fees under § 7–204 of this title: Is less than $10,000, the County Commissioners shall pay to the clerk of the court the amount necessary to bring the total to $10,000, plus any amount the County Commissioners determine is reasonable for the library maintenance, to be used under the direction of the judges of the Circuit Court for Cecil County; or Exceeds the amount necessary for library maintenance, the Cecil County Bar and Library Association, Inc., may transfer the excess money to the Cecil County Bar Foundation, Inc., to be used for charitable and educational purposes in accordance with the bylaws of the Foundation; and All amounts paid under this section shall be used under the direction of the judges of the Circuit Court for Cecil County in consultation with the Law Library Committee of the Cecil County Bar and Library Association, Inc. 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: The amount under subsection (b) of this section; and Any amount the local governing body determines is appropriate, but not less than $1,500, for library support and maintenance, including books, library equipment, and the services of a librarian. In St. Mary’s County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County shall transmit monthly the amount under subsection (b)(1) of this section to a special account known as the St. Mary’s County Law Library Fund maintained by the county. As determined by the County Administrative Judge, the St. Mary’s County Law Library Fund may only be used for the general purposes of the court library, including to acquire books, other publications, and library equipment, and for other necessary expenses. 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.

A municipal corporation of this State may use the following language in concluding an indictment for violation of an ordinance: “against the peace, government, and dignity of the State”.