What's happening
This bill allows county clerks to collect a $5 electronic citation fee for certain violations, with proceeds split between counties and arresting agencies.
Why it matters
Encourages modernization. By funding the use of electronic citation systems, the bill helps local law enforcement and courts move away from paper, potentially making ticket processing faster and more accurate.
Creates dedicated local funding. The split of the $5 fee ensures both county clerks and arresting agencies have resources specifically earmarked for establishing and maintaining electronic citation infrastructure, rather than relying on general budgets.
Gives counties local control. Counties can opt out if they choose, meaning the fee and its electronic citation system adoption are not mandatory statewide, allowing flexibility for regions with different needs or resources.
Adds to defendant costs. Anyone pleading or found guilty of covered violations will pay an additional $5, which, while relatively small, increases the overall cost of minor infractions for individuals.
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Who cares
Defendants receiving traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance or conservation citations
They would pay an additional $5 fee upon a guilty plea, guilty judgment or grant of supervision unless the county opts out by ordinance.
County clerks
They would collect the fee and administer county electronic citation funds receiving 60% of the proceeds to establish and maintain electronic citations.
Arresting agencies
They would receive 40% of the fee proceeds to defray expenses related to establishing and maintaining electronic citations.
County governments
They could opt out of the electronic citation fee requirement by ordinance.
Headline styles
Add Electronic Citation Fee
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add $5 Electronic Citation Fee
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Matthew Titone
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6150
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to electronic citation fees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new section 8023 to read as follows:
§ 8023. Electronic citation fees. (a) As used in this section, "electronic citation" means the process of transmitting traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, conservation, or other citations and law enforcement data via electronic means to a county clerk.
(b) The clerks of the county in the state shall be entitled to collect an electronic citation fee of five dollars. Such fee shall be paid by the defendant in any traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or conservation citation issued upon a plea of guilty, judgment of guilty or grant of supervision. This fee shall be in addition to all other fees and charges and assessable as costs and shall not be subject to disbursement. Sixty percent of the fee shall be deposited into the "electronic citation fund" established by each county. Forty percent of the fee shall be disbursed to the arresting agency to defray expenses related to the establishment and maintenance of electronic citations. Each county clerk shall be the custodian, ex officio, of the electronic citation fund and shall use the fund to perform the duties required by the office for establishing and maintaining electronic citations. The county clerk shall not charge and collect an electronic citation fee if the county has by ordinance elected not to be subject to this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11028-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to elec- tronic citation fees
Purpose or general idea of bill
To insure law enforcement safety and court efficiency by creating elec- tronic citations, which will be printed instead of hand-written.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends the Civil Practice Law and Rules. Provides that the clerks of the county in the state shall be entitled to charge and collect an electronic citation fee of $5, which shall be paid by the defendant in any traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or conserva- tion case upon a plea of guilty, judgment of guilty, or grant of super- vision. Provides that 60% of the fee shall be deposited into the "Elec- tronic Citation Fund," established by each county, and 40% of the fee shall be disbursed to the arresting agency to defray expenses related to the establishment and maintenance of electronic citations. Contains provisions that establish the county clerk as the custodian of the Elec- tronic Citation Fund, and accounts for the duties that are required by the office for establishing and maintaining electronic citations. Provides that the county clerk shall not charge and collect an electron- ic citation fee if the county has by ordinance elected not to be subject to this section.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Nationally, the leading cause of death for police officers over the past decades has been being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The purpose of administering electronic citations is to increase law enforcement safety in the state. Instead of being hand-written, elec- tronic citations will be printed. Electronic citations will enable police officers to issue citations in a quicker manner, spend less time alongside the road and in harm's way, and concentrate more fully on the stop. In addition to increasing officer safety, electronic citations will also aid courts by reducing data entry and processing costs. With electronic citations. courts will have greater efficiency because they will be sent electronically by the issuing officer directly to the court clerk. Furthermore, electronic citations will relieve the issues with illegible hand-written citations, also making future citations free of handwriting errors, as well as easily reproducible unlike difficult to read carbon copies of documents.
Prior legislative history
2017: S.6150 - Referred to Judiciary/A.7415 - Referred to Judiciary 2016: S.5724 - Referred to Judiciary/A.3165 - Referred to Judiciary 2015: S.5724 - Referred to Judiciary/A.3165 - Referred to Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.