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<p>Get a speeding ticket lately?</p><p>No big deal, just charge it.</p><p>Luzerne County residents will soon be able to use credit cards to pay court fines, according to court administration.</p><p>The district court system is in the process of installing card readers in all 16 of the county&#8217;s magisterial courts, as well as central court, as a way to make paying fines more convenient for the public.</p><p>Traffic and routine non-traffic offenses &#8212; such as summary counts of disorderly conduct or harassment &#8212; will be handled with a mere card swipe.</p><p>Luzerne County President Judge Richard Hughes said this system is something officials had been looking at for a while, acknowledging that most people now use debit and credit cards as primary methods of payment.</p><p>He said they looked at different options, such as putting ATMs in the court locations, but ultimately decided the card readers would be the most efficient option.</p><p>&#8220;It seemed to us to be a logical step,&#8221; Hughes said.</p><p>He said the county already bought the devices, and they are going to start installing them at the district courts &#8220;as soon as possible.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re anxious to get it going,&#8221; said the judge.</p><p>In addition, Hughes said this payment method will provide another level of convenience for those on a payment plan for fines. With the new system, a resident can arrange to have the payment automatically taken off his card.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a more efficient way to collect,&#8221; Hughes said.</p><p>Because of the ease-of-payment factor, the county expects to see an increase in court collections.</p><p>&#8220;We should see a significant uptick,&#8221; said Hughes.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hughes </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_centralcourt3toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hughes </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Brigid Edmunds</p><p>bedmunds@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Brigid Edmunds at 570-991-6113 or on Twitter @brigidedmunds</p></shirttailMeta></div>

County district court system will soon allow credit payments