§ 40-35-301 — Fixing of fine by court or jury

(a) Where the offense is punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) or less, the court shall fix the fine in accordance with § 40-35-111 . (b) In a case where the range of punishment includes a fine in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00), the jury finding the defendant guilty shall also fix the fine, if any, in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00). The jury shall report such fine with a verdict of guilty. When imposing sentence, after the sentencing hearing, the court shall impose a fine, if any, not to exceed the fine fixed by the jury. The defendant may waive the right to have a jury fix the fine and agree that the court fix it, in which case the court may lawfully fix the fine at any amount that the jury could have. If a plea agreement imposing a fine in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) and the defendant's written waiver of the constitutional right to have a jury fix the fine are accepted by the court, the court may pronounce sentence, including the fine, without a jury. If the conviction is upon a guilty plea and there is no jury waiver as provided in this subsection (b), a jury shall be impaneled to fix the fine, if any, to be imposed by the court in an amount not to exceed the fine fixed by the jury.

Legislative History

Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 6.