The Columbus Municipal Court’s amnesty program for 2012 has ended, leaving the city with almost $150,000 in collected fines.
“I think we can say the program was successful this year,” Court Clerk Lou Dudley said. “It didn’t bring in as much money as in years past, but I think we did well.”
The amnesty program, which started in February and ran through April 17, allowed people who owed court fees and fines to the city the opportunity to come and pay the fines, without being arrested on contempt-of-court charges for the overdue fines.
“People had to come to the Municipal Court building in person and pay all of the fine or fines owed,” Dudley said. “By doing this, the judge dismissed the contempt-of-court charge upon payment of both the fine and the court costs.”
Since the program began in 2002, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been collected for the city, including more than $250,000 last year. The money collected will be divided among the city’s general fund, the Municipal Court Division and the state.
Dudley said the economy may have played a role in the collected amount for this year.
“Times are tough and a lot of people are out of work,” Dudley said. “I think it’s hard for a lot of people to pay their fines all at once.”
Although the program has officially ended, Dudley encouraged people with outstanding misdemeanor fines to do the right thing.
“Even though the program is over, if people will come to the Municipal Complex we can work something out,” she said. “Please take care of your business. We will work with you, however you can.”
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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