City collects $438,160 during 3-month court amnesty period

May 20, 2010 11:07:00 AM

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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Reader Comments

KJ commented at 5/20/2010 1:22:00 PM:

But remember, this WAS NOT about the money. Right. It was ONLY about the money. When a politician (or a policeman, or a judge) says, "it's not about the money," you better believe that it sure isn't about justice, or paperwork, or process, or about anything other than the MONEY. MONEY. MONEY. MONEY. All they want is your money, folks.

It wouldn't even be so offensive except that St. John went out of his way at the start of this to very plainly state that it wasn't about the money. But hey, you gotta pay for a new warrant division somehow, right?

KA commented at 5/20/2010 4:32:00 PM:

And why shouldn't it be about the money? So you're against people being responsible?

KJ commented at 5/21/2010 11:30:00 AM:

No, I'm against being lied to. I'm against politicians treating the public like an ATM while they pretend they're performing a public service. If it's about the money, have the balls to admit it up front.

Billy commented at 5/21/2010 1:23:00 PM:

Don't be in dispair.
Ain't no lying there
If you owe the fine,
pay the dime.
or do the time!

george commented at 5/21/2010 9:45:00 PM:

Funny thine. The City could have had this money 2 years ago. If they sit on their butts and let it go again (and they will) You will see this all over again. No reason for this to have gone this long. They make it sound like they have done something, Well they screwed up and lost a lot of instrest on this money. Lets see what will happen next year.

george commented at 5/21/2010 9:46:00 PM:

Funny thing. The City could have had this money 2 years ago. If they sit on their butts and let it go again (and they will) You will see this all over again. No reason for this to have gone this long. They make it sound like they have done something, Well they screwed up and lost a lot of instrest on this money. Lets see what will happen next year.

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