Columbus city officials are expected to announce an amnesty program for outstanding Municipal Court fines next week, designed to clear a backlog of warrants and fines owed the city.
Mayor Robert Smith and Police Chief Joseph St. John will announce the program Monday, which will offer amnesty for anyone who “comes to the Columbus Police Department voluntarily to pay any outstanding old fines owed to the Municipal court,” Officer Terry Songer said in a release.
The amnesty program will run from Monday through April 29, Songer said.
“This opportunity for amnesty does not mean the Columbus Police Department will not arrest someone on the street, if stopped, and we discover the person has an outstanding warrant/fine,” Songer said.
In addition, the city plans to release a list of names of citizens who owe fines for publication next week.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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