More than $400,000 was collected during the city”s recent amnesty period for municipal court fines.
From Feb. 1 through April 30, those with outstanding municipal court fines could have paid their fines without penalty, even if warrants for arrest already were issued, because of the overdue fines. And contempt-of-court charges were forgiven.
During the amnesty period, the city collected $438,160.44, including month-to-month payments of municipal court fines, said Terrie Songer, public information officer for the Columbus Police Department.
Additionally, during the amnesty period, 479 warrants for arrest for outstanding fines were served or recalled; warrants are recalled when the wanted person turns himself or herself in to the police.
The CPD still has two officers designated for serving warrants after the amnesty period, Songer said.
“We were very happy with the success (of the amnesty program),” said Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John. “It really gave a lot of people an opportunity to come up here and make amends with what they owe. And it gave us an opportunity to form the warrant division we have now.”
The city likely will offer another amnesty program, St. John added.
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