New Jersey § 2b:12-23

§ 2b:12-23.

a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a municipal court

finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date

of the hearing or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty, the court may order the person to perform community service in lieu of the payment of a penalty; or,

order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the

court. If a person defaults on any payment and a municipal court finds that the defendant

does not have the ability to pay, the court may: (1) reduce the penalty, suspend the penalty, or modify the installment plan; (2) order that credit be given against the amount owed for each day of confinement,

if the court finds that the person has served jail time for the default; (3) revoke any unpaid portion of the penalty, if the court finds that the circumstances

that warranted the imposition have changed or that it would be unjust to require payment; (4) order the person to perform community service in lieu of payment of the penalty;

or (5) impose any other alternative permitted by law in lieu of payment of the penalty. b. For the purposes of this section, “ penalty ” means any fine, statutorily-mandated assessment, surcharge or other financial penalty

imposed by a municipal court, except restitution or a surcharge assessed pursuant

to subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.2000, c. 75 ( C.39:4-97.2 ).