Berlin, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

New fee on Berlin court fines

The law allows Berlin Municipal Court's clerk to add a technology fee to each criminal or quasi-criminal fine paid. The judge sets the fee, capped at $10 per fine. The money is restricted to court technology: computer hardware and software, plus imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment and software. Allowed costs include purchases and specified leases, maintenance, and installation. The clerk must keep the money in a separate account, subject to audit by a city-approved auditor. Authority to charge the fee ends July 1, 2030. After that, leftover money remains reserved for general Berlin city technology uses. If the city governing authority finds a surplus, the clerk may transfer it to that authority.