Opinion No.

Honorable John Vance District Attorney Services Building Dallas, Texas 75202

Re: Acceptance of credit cards in payment of fines, fees and other charges

Dear Mr. Vance:

You ask several questions relating to a recently enacted statute which enables county commissioners courts to authorize county officials to accept credit cards for the payment of "a fee, fine, court cost, or other charge. . . ." V.T.C.S. art. 3910a. Your questions may be summarized as follows:

1. Whether the acceptance of credit cards by a county constitutes a `lending of credit' in violation of the Texas Constitution;

2. Whether…