Mecklenburg County Fine Collection Program
About Us
The 26th Judicial District established the Fine Collection Program in 1993. The specific objectives of the Fine Collection Program are to:
- Hold accountable convicted defendants who have been assessed monetary sanctions and placed on unsupervised probation;
- Improve the credibility of the judiciary through the collection of monetary sanctions in unsupervised probation cases;
- Remove from the courtroom the unseemly and time-consuming bartering over payment terms;
- Provide defendants an alternative to incarceration;
- Ameliorate overcrowding of the jails due to noncompliance;
- Proactively pursue the collection of monetary sanctions for the target population; and,
- Improve the monetary collection rate for the target population.
Eligibility
Fine Collection is generally available in misdemeanor and low-level felony cases. The target population includes offenders placed on unsupervised probation convicted of the following offenses:
- Assault
- Concealment
- DWI
- Property offenses
- DWLR
- Drug offenses
- Fraud
- Worthless checks
Additionally, defendants must owe a total of $200 or more in court-levied fines, costs, and/or restitution to be admitted to the program.
Enrollment / Referral Process
- The judge makes a referral to the Fine Collection Program if a defendant needs more than 40 days to pay the total amount due to the court.
- A one-time $20.00 installment fee is assessed in addition to other costs / fees that may be ordered by the judge.
- A post-judgment data form is provided to the defendant for the Operations Coordinators to process in Suite 4420.
- Operations Coordinators process the referral within 48 hours and provide the defendant with a payment plan specifying the amount to be paid and the due dates of the required monthly payments.
NOTE: This program is not for defendants who wish to pay in full within 40 days; it is for those in need of a payment plan to successfully pay the total amount due as ordered by the court.
Program Workflow & Case Management Phases
Payment Information
Payments may be made in person at the Cashier’s Office, Suite 1579, with cash, credit or debit card (photo ID required), cashier’s check, or money order. Also, payments may be mailed or made Online.
In Person:
- Cash
- Credit / debit card (plus processing fees) – MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover. Some restrictions apply.
- Money order
- Certified check
X NO Personal Checks
Pay in person at the Cashier's Office, Suite 1579, (located on the 1st floor) in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. There is an ATM located on the 2nd floor for your convenience.
If paying by money order or certified check, make payable to “Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court.”
Once you make a payment at the Cashier’s window, drop off a copy of your receipt in the “Receipt Box,” located in Suite 4420.
Mail:
- Money order
- Certified check
X NO Cash
X NO Personal Checks
Make payable to:
Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court
Mail payment to:
Clerk of Superior Court
Mecklenburg County Courthouse
PO Box 37971
Charlotte, NC 28237-7971
You must include your case number when mailing in your payment.
Notify the Operations Coordinators of the mailed payment via phone or email.
Online:
Online payments are available via the eCourts Portal. An Operations Coordinator will explain in detail how to make a payment online during the intake process.
- Please note that case numbers must follow this format to be accepted on the payment site: 24CR000000-590.
- If you miss your assigned payment due date as specified on your plan, your monthly minimum amount due will include any missed payments.
Violation of Unsupervised Probation Court Hearings
Monthly payments are required when enrolled in the Fine Collection Program. Failure to pay per the established monthly payment agreement will initiate delinquency status, which may result in a “Notice of Hearing on Violation of Unsupervised Probation” being issued. If issued, a court date will be scheduled for the defendant to appear before a judge.
At each court violation hearing, the judge has several options, such as activating a portion of or the entire suspended sentence of jail time, issuing an Order for Arrest for a defendant who fails to appear at the hearing, or issuing any other decision deemed necessary based on the facts of the case. For court attendance, please see parking and childcare information below.
Location / Hours of Operation
832 East 4th Street, Suite 4420
Charlotte, NC 28202
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Contact Us
Main Phone: 704-686-0240
Operations Coordinators: 704-686-0241 / 704-686-0242
Email: [email protected]
Be sure to include your full name, case number, and contact number when sending emails to the Operations Coordinators regarding your case.
Parking
915 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Public parking for court visitors is available at the 4th Street Parking Deck, which is located at the intersection of 4th and McDowell Streets. Accessible parking for persons with disabilities is available on Level 2. The Court does not validate parking for court visitors and is not responsible if your vehicle is ticketed and/or towed.
Onsite Childcare
Larry King's Clubhouse (located on the 2nd floor of the courthouse): Children's Play and Care Center, Inc. is a free, drop-in childcare center for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years of age whose family members are conducting business at the courthouse or serving as jurors. Operating hours are 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. For additional information, please contact the center directly at 704-686-0285.
