If the police department receives municipal court payments, should it issue receipts?

• A. It should issue receipts.
• B. It should not issue receipts; the municipal court should issue receipts.
• C. It should issue receipts only for large payments.
• D. It should never issue receipts under any circumstances.

Answer: (B)

The official record of payments for municipal court matters should come from the court itself. Even if the police department collects the money, the receipt should be issued by the municipal court because the court is the authoritative recordkeeper for fines and fees, and it links the payment to the correct case, amount, and date. This maintains proper accounting, ensures funds are deposited into the city treasury, and creates a clear, auditable trail. If the police issued receipts, it could blur ownership of funds and complicate reconciliation with the court’s records. Therefore, the municipal court should issue receipts for payments.