INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A total 63 people went to the Indian River County Courthouse last Saturday to take advantage of the first local “Amnesty Day” to save the 40 percent collection fees on overdue fines and fees.
A total of $15,969 was collected, and the additional 40 percent collection fees waived for Amnesty Day amounted to a total of $6,400 for the 63 payments.
The largest payment came from a man who forked out $3,000 for a 2004 DUI fine, saving $1,200 in collection fees.
The paying of the fines and fees cleared 19 people completely off the court’s money-owed books. It also resulted in the reinstatement of drivers’ licenses for six people whose licenses had been suspended over the unpaid debts.
Clerk of Court Jeff Smith declared the Amnesty Day, dubbed “Operation Green Light,” a “moderate success.“
“I think if we had scheduled it earlier – say in February or March – before a lot of people spent their tax refunds, we would have done better,” he said.
“Next year, we plan to do that,” he added.
For reasons that are still unclear, a larger percentage of people owing money in St. Lucie, Duval and Miami-Dade County paid their fines on Saturday, said Court Administrator Cindy Carlsward.
“We hope to have a better understanding of why, after more state-wide, analysis,” she said.