2025 Session Last amended: 2023 session

§ 484.85 — Disposition of Fines, Fees, and Other Money; Accounts; Ramsey County District Court

Plain-Language Summary

This section sets out how fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected by the Ramsey County District Court are distributed when prosecuted by a city or municipal attorney. Generally, two-thirds of fines go to the municipality where the crime occurred and one-third goes to the state general fund. This same distribution applies when a city uses the county attorney for prosecution or when the attorney general assists the city.

484.85 DISPOSITION OF FINES, FEES, AND OTHER MONEY; ACCOUNTS; RAMSEY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.

(a) In all cases prosecuted in Ramsey County District Court by an attorney for a municipality or subdivision of government within Ramsey County for violation of a statute; an ordinance; or a charter provision, rule, or regulation of a city; all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected by the court administrator shall be deposited in the state treasury and distributed according to this paragraph. Except where a different disposition is provided by section 299D.03, subdivision 5, or other law, on or before the last day of each month, the court shall pay over all fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected by the court administrator during the previous month as follows: two-thirds paid to the treasurer of the municipality or subdivision of government within Ramsey County and one-third credited to the state general fund.

All other fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected by the district court shall be distributed by the courts as provided by law.

(b) Fines, penalties, and forfeitures shall be distributed as provided in paragraph (a) when:

(1) a city contracts with the county attorney for prosecutorial services under section 484.87, subdivision 3; or

(2) the attorney general provides assistance to the city attorney under section 484.87, subdivision 5.

History:

2006 c 260 art 5 s 32; 2009 c 83 art 2 s 29; 2023 c 52 art 3 s 4

History: History: 2006 c 260 art 5 s 32; 2009 c 83 art 2 s 29; 2023 c 52 art 3 s 4

Practical Notes

Cities in Ramsey County receive two-thirds of fines collected in their jurisdiction from municipal prosecutions. This is an important revenue source for cities and reflects the principle that local governments bear the costs of law enforcement. The distribution formula encourages municipalities to take an active role in prosecuting violations that occur within their boundaries.

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes