Lackawanna County provides kiosks to pay fines

SCRANTON, Pa. — Defendants fined by Lackawanna County, Pa., Magisterial District Justices will now have the option of paying fines in full by using credit or debit cards online or at kiosks.

According to a news release, the secure payment service is offered through Exceptional Payments of Dunmore, a local vendor. Exceptional Payments will operate payment kiosks at each Magisterial 0ffice. Defendants can also pay fines from their homes, online.

Court officials believe the secure service will lessen the number of payment plans for fines that often amount to $150 or less. The plans are inconvenient for defendants, who must come to the office in person at regular intervals to make payments. Multiple payments also increase the workload of office staff, since payments must be processed more than one time.

"A lot of people would prefer to pay off the fine at once, but they don't have the cash," said Lackawanna County's court administrator, Ron MacKay. "We think it will bring in more revenue."

A small user fee will be included in the payment to cover the cost of the service.