Companion bills S.453 and H.3704 would make permanent a $5 fee (currently scheduled to expire June 30, 2016) levied on all monetary penalties imposed in general sessions court, magistrates court, or municipal court for misdemeanor traffic offenses or for non-traffic violations. The revenue generated from this fee is dedicated South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
This fee was bad policy when it was enacted and extending would be a continuation of bad policy. If lawmakers feel the Criminal Justice Academy is a vital function of state government they should find funding for it in the state general fund. If the academy is not a vital function it doesn’t justify a new fee imposed on citizens.