As used in this division, the following words shall have the
definitions ascribed to them by this section:
Legal tender issued by the United States of America.
A check drawn on a bank in a form acceptable to the director,
provided said check is not otherwise defective on its face and provided
the issuer of said check has not tendered checks for payment to the
city in the past which were returned for insufficient funds.
A card, plate, or similar device issued by a banking institution
and used to make purchases on credit or to borrow money, or a similar
card used to directly debit a bank account, provided said card is
issued by an issuer acceptable to the director.
The director of finance of the city.
A money order drawn on a bank in a form acceptable to the
director of the city, provided said money order is not otherwise defective
on its face.
Payment by telephone or computer, but does not include payment
in person or by mail.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2601)
The director shall be and is hereby authorized to accept cash,
money orders, checks or, where the city has appropriate equipment
for the receipt of same, credit cards as a means of payment of taxes,
fees, fines, or court costs to be collected by the city. Payment may
be by credit card personally presented or by telephonic or electronic
means.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2602)
The director shall be and is hereby directed to assess a processing
fee of up to five percent (5%) of the amount of a fee, fine, court
cost levied in the city municipal court or any amount paid as ad valorem
tax or other amount due the city being paid by the use of a credit
card, as an amount reasonably necessary and related to the expense
incurred by the city to accept said payment by credit card.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2603)
If, for any reason, a payment by credit card to the city is
not honored by the credit card company on which the funds are drawn,
the director shall be and is hereby authorized to collect a service
charge from the person who owes the fee, fine, court cost, or other
charge to the city. The service charge is in addition to the original
fee, fine, court cost, or other charge and is for the collection of
that original amount. The amount of the service charge shall be the
same amount as the fee charged for the collection of a check drawn
on an account with insufficient funds.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2604)
The director is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with
companies which issue credit cards to collect and seize credit cards
issued by the company that are outdated or otherwise unauthorized,
and the director is further authorized to charge the company a fee
for the return of said credit cards.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2605)
The director shall deposit in the general fund with the official
depository of the city any amounts collected by the city pursuant
to this division for convenience fees, service charges, or other fees
incidental to the use of credit cards.
(1999 Code, sec. 1.2606)
(a)
Except
as herein provided, the payment of any tax, service fee, municipal
court fine or municipal court fee may be made in the form of a personal
check, cashier's check, business check, organization check, money
order, bank-issued check, debit card and credit card. Personal checks
shall not be accepted for payment of municipal court costs or fines
for a defendant for whom a warrant has been issued. The use of the
word “check” in this section includes the word “draft.”
(b)
Any check accepted by the city in payment of a tax, service, fee or fine which is returned to the city is subject to a handling charge as provided for in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code. Such handling charge shall be added to the amount of the tax, charge, fine or fee for which the check was given. If payment has been made for city water and sewer service and the handling charge is not paid, the city shall not be barred from discontinuing water service. Such handling charge is in addition to any other charges levied by the city, including late payments as provided elsewhere in the city ordinances.
(c)
Acceptance
of a check as payment for any city tax, service, fee or fine or any
other purpose shall not be deemed payment in full until the check
is paid by the drawer's bank, and the return of a check marked “insufficient
funds,” “account closed,” or “stop payment”
shall not extend any deadline for which the check was given. Payments
timely made by check which are honored by the drawer's bank in accordance
with normal banking rules shall be deemed timely paid.
(1999 Code, art. 1.2200; Ordinance 2662 adopted 9/29/14)
