Tuesday, May 17, 2016
COURT
Court filers can pay quickly with new technology
By Macomb Daily Staff
POSTED: 05/17/16, 2:16 PM EDT | UPDATED: ON 05/17/2016
As fast as Jerry Seinfeld swipes a credit card at a gas pump on TV, those who file pleadings at the Macomb County courthouse can pay with a swipe or touch of a computer screen.
County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh said the Clerk’s Office has started offering Square Stand, a device attached to several Clerk’s Office counter posts that allow patrons to pay with a credit card or Apple Pay, a relatively new payment technology established by Apple.
It will allow lawyers and others who file court actions to bypass the cashier to make a payment. Court customers may also receive their payment receipt via email or text message.
“Making court services more accessible is important,” Sabaugh said in a written release. “My staff and I are using technology to make paying for services easier and safer.”
Square Stand devices already have been used for vital records payments, such as motion fees, birth certificates, marriage licenses and concealed pistol licenses, among others.
A Square Stand device. PHOTO FROM MACOMB COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE
Sabaugh said she has been at the forefront of merging technology into her office’s operations. She noted Macomb in 1997 was the first county in Michigan to allow people to pay by credit card. She said Macomb may be the first county office in the state to offer Apple Pay, which involves the use of an iPhone 6 or beyond or Apple Watch.