If you've ever bounced a check, you find the fees charged by the banks and merchants can add up. In fact they could add up to about $235 if you don't make it right within the first 30 days.
The Senate Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would lower those fees for the first 30 days to a $20 fee, but would impose treble damages up to $500 for any bounced check if it remains unpaid more than 30 days.Sen. Al Mansell, R-Sandy, said the bill would make it much easier on individuals who inadvertently bounce a check but would come down hard on those who habitually do it and don't make it right.
"We have to make bad checks unprofitable," Mansell said. "These people need to be penalized."
However, some lawmakers were concerned that treble damages were excessive.