Court Reporter Practice Exam

If a court reporter's certification has expired for 90 days or less, what is the renewal fee?

1. Normal fee only

2. Twice the normal fee

3. 1 ½ times the normal fee

4. Three times the normal fee

The correct answer is: 1 ½ times the normal fee

The correct answer indicates that if a court reporter's certification has expired for 90 days or less, the renewal fee is set at 1 ½ times the normal fee. This structure is often designed to encourage timely renewal of certification while still providing a manageable option for those who may have overlooked the expiration for a short period. The rationale behind this specific renewal fee is to balance the need for court reporters to maintain active credentials with the understanding that lapses can happen. By implementing a surcharge that is greater than the normal fee but not excessively punitive, it helps maintain standards within the profession while also ensuring that reporters have a clear incentive to keep their certifications current. Other fee scales, such as simply a normal fee or a substantially higher fee, may not effectively motivate compliance or recognize the shorter lapse period, which is why the rate of 1 ½ times the normal fee strikes an appropriate balance in this situational context.