SF1180

The bill aims to modify how traffic fine revenues are distributed. Here’s a breakdown of its main components:

1. Fine Disbursement for Administrative Violations: This section changes the proportions in which traffic fine revenues are distributed. Local governments employing the officer who issued a citation will now receive two-thirds of the collected fines. Half of these funds must be used for law enforcement purposes without replacing existing funds.

2. State Patrol Fines: Fines collected by State Patrol officers have specific distribution criteria, with portions going to the state general fund, the Minnesota grade crossing safety account, and the state trunk highway fund.

3. Disbursement of Surcharges: This clarifies how surcharges on fines are distributed, with particular percentages allocated to different state and municipal funds.

4. Disposition of Fines and Penalties by Court Administrators: This specifies how fines collected by court administrators are distributed, mostly between the responsible local government treasury and the state general fund or highway user tax distribution fund.

5. Specific Rules for Ramsey County: In cases prosecuted in Ramsey County, a portion of fines collected goes directly to Ramsey County’s treasury and the remaining funds are distributed according to the type of offense.

6. Heavy Vehicle Violations: Profits from fines related to heavy vehicle regulations are split between the state highway user tax distribution fund and the state general fund.

The bill ensures that certain percentages of the revenues from fines are earmarked specifically for transportation-related funds or local government funds. It also emphasizes that funds for law enforcement provided from these revenues should supplement, not replace, existing funds.