NJSA 2B:12-23.1 Penalties Payable in Installments; Alternative Penalties

2B:12-23.1 Penalties payable in installments; alternative penalties. 1. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a municipal court finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date of the hearing or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty, the court may order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court. If a person defaults on any payment and a municipal court finds that the defendant does not have the ability to pay, the court may: (1)reduce the penalty, suspend the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2)order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement, if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3)revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4)order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty; or (5)impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty. b.For the purposes of this section, "penalty" means any fine, statutorily-mandated assessment, surcharge or other financial penalty imposed by a municipal court, except restitution or a surcharge assessed pursuant to subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c.75 (C.39:4-97.2)