THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, August 8, 1994                 TAG: 9408080057
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   38 lines

COURT FINES CAN BE PAID BY CREDIT CARD

The state has come up with a way to ease the pain of the traffic fines that can result from seeing flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror.

Now, all you have to do at your friendly courthouse is say two words: Charge it.

As of July 1, the state required all localities to begin accepting credit cards to pay for court fees and costs.

Although county and city government officials say they won't profit by accepting credit cards, the state is counting on getting its money quickly.

``It was real cute Tuesday,'' said Margaret Burks, Amherst County's General District Court clerk. ``A lady was walking out and she was ready to give us a check, but she saw the sign and gave us her credit card instead . . . I think everybody just loves plastic.''

Each court needs two pieces of equipment to go on line - a machine that magnetically reads the credit card and a printer.

But officials at several courts that have gone on line say their credit card business hasn't exactly been brisk.

Bedford County Circuit Court reports only one credit card payment. In Campbell County Circuit Court, no one has used a credit card to pay fines or court costs. Only one person in Lynchburg General District Court has paid with plastic, and no one has used a credit card in Lynchburg Circuit Court. In Amherst County General District Court, the number is four.

Figures like that surprise Burks, who said credit card payments are no more cumbersome than any other form of payment. by CNB