HB 2615 Summary

• Imposes a $1 penalty assessment on every civil traffic violation and criminal motor vehicle or vehicle-related ordinance violation collected by courts.

• Courts transmit collected assessments to county or city/town treasurers, who forward them to the state treasurer for deposit into a newly established nonlethal equipment fund.

• Establishes a nonlethal equipment fund advisory commission with 7 members including legislators, the director of public safety, and representatives from police chiefs, sheriffs, state troopers, and police associations to recommend annual fund allocations.

• Fund monies may be used only for nonlethal equipment and are exempt from lapsing appropriations but remain subject to legislative appropriation.

• Court judges may mitigate all or part of the assessment using the same criteria and limitations applied to fine mitigation under existing law.