Tift County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

New technology fees in Tift County court

The law allows Tift County Magistrate Court to charge up to $5 per civil case filing and per fine assessed. The chief magistrate sets the amounts, and the clerk collects the fees and keeps them in a separate account. The money can only fund specified court technology needs. Allowed uses include buying computers, software, and accessories, plus leasing, maintaining, and installing computer hardware. Funds also cover buying, leasing, maintaining, and installing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment and software. They can also pay for services or equipment to turn court records and archives into digital files for public access. Fee authority ends July 1, 2036; leftover money remains reserved for general Tift County technology uses.