Iowa Code » Chapter 909 — FINES
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 909.5 (2026)

Nonpayment of fines and court costs — contempt

✓ current as of July 2026
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A person who is able to pay a fine, court-imposed court costs for a criminal proceeding, or both, or an installment of the fine or the court-imposed court costs, or both, and who refuses to do so, or who fails to make a good faith effort to pay the fine, court costs, or both, or any installment thereof, shall be held in contempt of court. [C51, §3071, 3349; R60, §4881, 5084; C73, §4509, 4689; C97, §5440, 5604; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13588, 13964; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §762.32, 789.17; C79, 81, §909.5] 85 Acts, ch 52, §1

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1982–2018 · leading case: State v. Sluyter, 763 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2009).
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State v. Sluyter, 763 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2009). · cites it 38× “1245, § 905 (codified at Iowa Code § 909.5 (1979)). Although one of the predecessor statutes was located in a chapter governing criminal procedure, the legislature chose to place the new statute in the Iowa Corrections Code.”
State v. Peterson, 327 N.W.2d 735 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 4× “3), contempt for nonpayment of fines (section 909.5), and a fine as a judgment against defendant (section 909.”
Luster v. Broderick, 327 N.W.2d 224 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 2× “3 (providing for installment payments “whenever it appears that a defendant cannot make immediate payments”); section 909.5 (providing for contempt of court for failing to pay fine); section 909.”
State Of Iowa Vs. Michael Allen Sluyter, Certiorari To The Iowa Dist. Court For Ringgold Cnty., John D. Lloyd, Judge. Acquitted Indigent Challenges Legality Of Dist. Court's Use Of Contempt Powers To Enforce Judgment For Costs Of Legal Assistance Provided To Writ Sustained. Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Def., & Martha J. Lucey, Assista (Iowa 2009). · cites it 36× “1245, § 905 (codified at Iowa Code § 909.5 (1979)). Although one of the predecessor statutes was located in a chapter governing criminal procedure, the legislature chose to place the new statute in the Iowa Corrections Code.”
State v. Dist. Court (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “We note Iowa Code section 909.5 provides: A person who is able to pay a fine, court-imposed court costs for a criminal proceeding, or both, or an installment of the fine or the court- imposed court costs, or both, and who refuses to do so, or who fails to make a good faith…”
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