(Annapolis, Md — October 7, 2008) The Maryland Judiciary has been informed that its third party credit card vendor, VitalChek, will be phasing out the use of VISA credit cards when citizens make payments in person for traffic violations, court fines and other costs at District Courts and District Court Commissioner Stations throughout Maryland.

Due to a contractual agreement between VitalChek, and VISA, in the upcoming weeks, in-person transactions can only be made with Master Card, Discover, American Express, and debit cards – including debit cards with the VISA logo. The Court will also continue to accept cash and check payments.

“The courts have just been advised of this change by VitalChek, and we wanted to alert the public as soon as we could,” said Darrell S. Pressley, a spokesperson for the Maryland Judiciary. “We regret the inconvenience.”

The change in the use of VISA credit cards affects only transactions made in person in District Courthouses. There is no change to transactions via the Interactive Voice Response System (1-800-492-2656) or payments made via the Internet at www.paymentchek.com/MD/MarylandCourt.

For more information, visit the Maryland Judiciary Web site, www.mdcourts.gov.

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