§ 12-20. Default in payment of fine—Imprisonment.

(a)

When an offender sentenced to pay a fine defaults in the payment of the fine or in any installment, the municipal court, upon motion of the prosecuting attorney or upon its own motion, may require him to show cause why he should not be imprisoned for nonpayment. The court may issue a warrant of arrest or a summons for his appearance.

(b)

Following an order to show cause under subsection (a) of this section, unless the offender shows that his default was not attributable to an intentional refusal to obey the sentence of the court, or not attributable to a failure on his part to make a good faith effort to obtain the necessary funds for payment, the court may order the defendant imprisoned for a term not to exceed 30 days for the conviction of a misdemeanor or infraction. The court may provide in its order that payment or satisfaction of the fine at any time will entitle the offender to his release from such imprisonment or, after entering the order, may at any time reduce the sentence for good cause shown, including payment or satisfaction of the fine.

(Code 1991, § 13-20; Ord. No. 1376, §§ 1, 2, 1-18-1988)

State law reference

Similar provisions, RSMo 560.031.