Georgia
More Georgia traffic ticket amnesty in DeKalb County Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Hundreds stood in long lines Tuesday waiting to pay old parking and traffic tickets before the DeKalb County amnesty program ends and prosecution of scofflaws, with warrants issued and interest charged, begins.
There is a backlog of approximately 500,000 cases and the courts insist that, while it will take a while, they will get through the entire backlog. Admittedly, the courts are short staffed and their computers out of date.
While those speaking on behalf of the courts claim it was a change in administration that has motivated the push to collect on old Dekalb County traffic violations and parking tickets, the individuals paying the tickets don’t see it that way.
Some feel it is related to the bad economy and that it is an easy way to generate revenue. Others think having to take a day off and wait in line to pay tickets which can be as small as $15 to be silly.
While many may complain, I have to ask: Why didn’t they pay the tickets when they were first issued? It’s hard to blame someone for trying to collect on an old debt.
Submitted by NY traffic attorney Scott Feifer
Dekalb County traffic ticket amnesty thru April Friday, April 23rd, 2010
DeKalb County is attempting to collect more than $70 million on traffic tickets that violators have ignored.
To encourage those who owe traffic ticket fines, April is amnesty month. Either pay the fine without added fees or lose your license.
Dekalb County, Georgia contains roughly 10 percent of the city of Atlanta (Fulton County contains the rest). Dekalb currently has about 500,000 outstanding tickets dating back to the 80’s. The bulk of them have accrued in the last 10 years.
Fail to show up by the end of the month and a warrant will be issued and your license suspended.
About 3400 of the hundreds of thousands of outstanding tickets have been resolved thus far.
If you have any questions about the amnesty, feel free to contact a Dekalb County traffic ticket attorney.