Any person who may be committed for fines, penalties or costs, and who may not be able to discharge the same, shall be required to perform public work to the amount of such fines, costs or penalties, at such rate as may be permitted by law or in the discretion of the Judge at such rates as may be reasonable. In the event any such person shall have partially so discharged a fine, penalty or cost, and thereafter desires to discharge the remainder in cash, he shall be permitted to do so, and shall be given credit upon the whole amount of the fines, costs or penalties for the number of days of such work.
(1967 Code Sec. 9-8)