We would like to think that the latest proposal by Macon Municipal Court and the city police department to collect past-due fines for traffic citations or probation violation fees will do what the city hopes - bring in some $1 million from scofflaws who don't want to hear the knock of a police officer at their door. To bolster this effort, Municipal Court Director John Patton says some 1,000 arrest warrants have been issued for persons owing an average of $1,000 in back fines. Authorities say that on May 8 police will be out in force "waking up offenders from their slumber," where they will be taken in handcuffs by police car to City Hall where they will be kept in jail until it's time for them to go before the judge. Chief Mike Burns told The Telegraph, "We'll get as many as we can. I'd like to fill the courtroom up." The problem is tough talk such is frequently difficult to back up, and at best it could tie up police officers who in the best of all worlds would be out enforcing the law.
While we don't want to appear pessimistic, efforts such as this in the past failed to meet expectations; forcing people to pay overdue fines is somewhat akin to squeezing blood from a turnip. That's not to say the effort shouldn't be made; it's possible the city may actually bring in some cash, but authorities shouldn't be disappointed if the the bulk of the people they haul into court don't have the money to pay up, forcing the city to put them in jail, dumping an added burden on taxpayers. Another likelihood is that many of these people may have skipped town, making fee collection virtually impossible.
A review of court records in 1998 showed there was $13 million in uncollected fines from as many as 30,000 offenders. The Telegraph noted that some of the fines were 20 years old. The city granted periods of amnesty, immunity for outstanding warrants and forgave late penalties. Uncollectible charges were written off. Three years later, the uncollected fees remained at $10.6 million.
Persons who owe past-due fines or who are named in city court warrants are asked to call (478) 751-7154 for information on how to proceed. That's not bad idea, and it could save some folks a lot of trouble.
-Phil Dodson/for the Editorial Board
