Traffic Citations
Minnesota House Research Department Page 5
subsequent instance of littering on a highway and a $275 fine for a second or subsequent
violation of electronic messaging and cellular phone use prohibitions. Minn. Stat. §§
169.42, subd. 5; 169.475, subd. 2.
Statewide Payables List
The judicial branch maintains a uniform fine schedule that lists statutory fines and sets other
fine amounts for petty misdemeanor and some misdemeanor traffic violations. (There are
other schedules for truck-related and commercial motor vehicle violations as well as for
violations related to natural resources and outdoor activities.) The schedule, known as the
Statewide Payables List, is authorized by state statute.
1
Minn. Stat. § 609.101, subd. 4. The
governing body of the judicial branch, the Judicial Council, maintains and revises the list
annually. There is a $50 default fine for a petty misdemeanor offense where the amount or
violation is not established in the Statewide Payables List.
In most cases, the fine in the Statewide Payables List is a specific amount for each violation.
However, the fine amount for some violations depends on the facts of the offense. For
example, the fine for speeding depends on the extent to which the person exceeded the limit
and the fine for excessive vehicle weight is scaled based on the extent to which the vehicle was
overweight.
Local district courts can establish a schedule setting fine amounts for local ordinance
violations that may be paid in lieu of a court appearance. Minn. R. Crim. P. 23.03.
Components of a Fine
The total amount a person must pay for a traffic violation has several elements.
2
First, there is
the base fine itself. As discussed above, the Statewide Payables List typically sets fine amounts
for payable offenses, but in some cases state statutes establish a minimum or specific fine
amount. For crimes requiring a court appearance, the judge sets the fine amount as part of
sentencing.
Second, there is a $75 surcharge for all persons convicted of a petty misdemeanor or crime,
including traffic violations that are continued, stayed, or dismissed as part of diversion
program.
3
The surcharge does not apply (1) to administrative citations, or (2) if the penalty is a
petty misdemeanor and no fine is imposed. Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 6.
1
This is available at: http://www.mncourts.gov/JusticePartners/Statewide-Payables-Lists.aspx.
2
In addition to the items discussed here, a person could be required to pay vehicle towing and impoundment
costs, restitution, and other court costs.
3
The surcharge was first instituted starting January 1, 1999. It has been set as follows: fiscal years 1999–2001:
$25, first instituted starting January 1, 1999 (Laws 1998, ch. 367, art. 8, § 5); 2002–2003: $35 (Laws 2001, 1st
spec. sess., ch. 9, art. 18, § 15); 2004–2005: $60 (Laws 2003, 1st spec. sess., ch. 2, art. 8, § 6); 2006–2008: $72
(Laws 2005, ch. 136, art. 14, § 4); and 2009 to present: $75 (Laws 2008, ch. 363, art. 12, § 11).