For a limited time only, people who have been dodging traffic tickets in Gwinnett County can settle up with the county without risking jail time or added fees.
Gwinnett County Recorder's Court is offering an amnesty program through the end of March. If a bench warrant was issued for a driver's failure to appear in court, that warrant will be recalled and the $25 bench warrant fee waived for those who pay their citations in person.
Drivers also will receive the forms to reinstate their expired driver's license if it was suspended for failure to appear in court.
The county has 30,000 outstanding bench warrants and $12 million in unpaid fines dating back to 1983, said Jeff West, the clerk of Recorder's Court. Even a modest return could help fill a gaping hole in the county's budget.
Gwinnett started the year with an $18 million deficit in its general fund, which has since been whittled down to $2.6 million through spending cuts and other measures.
This is the first time that Gwinnett has ever attempted an amnesty program.
Cobb County has never done one. However, officials have discussed offering a similar amnesty program in Cobb, because the county is running out of room to store the backlog of unresolved cases, according to Diane Webb, the clerk of State Court.
Traffic court officials in Fulton County and Atlanta did not return calls seeking information for this article.
Last year, DeKalb County Recorders Court collected $1.6 million through an amnesty program during the month of April. Its ticket crackdown resolved between 8,000 and 10,000 cases, out of a total of 500,000 outstanding citations that had piled up over the previous 10 years.
The public response was so overwhelming that long lines formed outside Recorders Court. Workers had to stay until midnight to process all the cases, said DeKalb County Chief Recorders Court Judge Nelly Withers.
Withers felt the program was successful, and a good public relations move for the county.
"It makes sense to show people you are going to enforce the law," Withers said. "They might think twice before they get themselves into a situation where you get a ticket again."
West said so far it's been business as usual at the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court building in Lawrenceville. The amnesty program has been going on since March 1, but he has not seen an increase in the number of fines being paid.
"So far, the numbers are not impressive at all, but anything could happen," West said.
Amnesty program for unpaid traffic tickets
Where: The Gwinnett County Recorder's Court at 115 Stone Mountain St. in Lawrenceville
When: Now through the end of March
What: Individuals have been given an opportunity to resolve their outstanding traffic tickets. During the amnesty period, the $25 bench warrant fee will be waived and the bench warrant recalled for those who pay their fines. They also will receive the appropriate forms to reinstate an expired driver's license if it was suspended for failure to appear in court.
For more information: Visit www.gwinnettcourts.com or contact Jeff West at 770-619-6115.
About the Author
