Judges: MARK WHITE, Attorney General of Texas
Filed Date: 9/12/1980
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/6/2016
Honorable Bill M. White Criminal District Attorney Bexar County Courthouse San Antonio, Texas 78205
Re: Legality of services performed by district attorney's office in collection of hot checks
Dear Mr. White:
You have requested our opinion as to whether a district attorney may lawfully collect unpaid checks for private persons. The 66th Legislature enacted article
(a) A county attorney, district attorney, or criminal district attorney may collect a fee if his office collects and processes a check or similar sight order if the check or similar sight order:
(1) has been issued or passed in a manner which makes the issuance or passing an offense under:
(A) Section
(B) Section
(C) Section
(2) has been forged under section
The statute permits the district attorney to collect the fee `from any person who is a party to the offense,' and establishes a maximum fee schedule based on the face amount of the check collected. Sections (b), (c).
Although other public officials are specifically prohibited from undertaking `the collection of any claim for debt for others,' article 6252-24, V.T.C.S., the addition of article 53.08 to the Code of Criminal Procedure removes any doubt as to whether a county attorney, district attorney or criminal district attorney may do so. It is thus our opinion that, pursuant to article
Very truly yours,
Mark White Attorney General of Texas
John W. Fainter, Jr. First Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Rick Gilpin Assistant Attorney General