§ 70-551. Checks returned unpaid by banks; penalty.

If a check used to make payment for an obligation to the city is returned unpaid for any reason by the bank on which it is drawn, such shall constitute a failure to pay the obligation and a specific penalty shall be imposed on the person in addition to and not in place of other penalties provided by law. This specific penalty shall be an obligation to be collected and accounted for in the same manner as if it were part of the original item, in payment of which the check was given and may be enforced in a separate action or in any instituted for the collection of such item. The specific penalty imposed under this section shall be an amount equal to the greater of one percent of the check or $15.00. This penalty may be waived if this is a first offense and the check is satisfied within five working days of its receipt. After receipt of three such checks which are returned unpaid during any two-year period, the director of the department of finance shall require payment of the original amount, interest or penalties due by the person to be paid by certified check, money order or cash.

(Code 1956, § 1-15)