Overdue Court Fees (H 7830, S 2505)

Individuals owing overdue court fees may soon find their names on a public list shaming scofflaws -- even if the fees are minor, decades old, or even inaccurate -- without prior notification. In March, the ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees in opposition to legislation repealing a requirement that the court notify individuals who have outstanding fees prior to placing their name on a public web site. Without prior notification, many people owing fees – or who court records erroneously list as owing fees – may find themselves humiliated when a family member or potential employer Googles their name and finds them labeled as a deadbeat by the State of Rhode Island. The Senate approved the legislation in March. In April, the ACLU wrote to the RI Judiciary asking them to withdraw their support of the legislation, citing media reports of individuals receiving notices when they were unaware they owed fees to begin with. Unfortunately, the House Judiciary committee approved the legislation just days later. The bill became law without the Governor's signature in May.