Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Municipal Court Gets Aggressive Collecting $400,000 In Owed Fines

Anyone owing an outstanding fine in Prescott's Municipal Court needs to go ahead and get it paid.

This, regardless of how long ago the ticket was issued. The Municipal Clerk's Office, working with Municipal Judge Gene Hale and the area's law enforcement agencies, is issuing failure to comply warrants for the arrest of those who have outstanding tickets.

Since the clerk's office began issuing the warrants after Michelle Glass took over on Jan. 1, 1997, the department has collected about $7,000 in old fines.

Glass said the money from the fines goes into the county general fund, with court cost being split between the city, county and state.

She said Hale has already had people held behind bars until they spend the time required to get the fine paid, or come up with the cash to clear the books. "He's really helped," she said.

The clerk's office does the required research into who owes old fines and issues the warrants. Those with tickets on the books have their names placed in the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) computer network along with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

If they're stopped for anything and the officer runs their name through either system, the warrant shows up and they can be held until a satisfactory outcome is reached.

"We're getting results," Glass said, adding those with outstanding tickets have their driver's license's suspended and cannot get them renewed until they have paid up.

"We're working hard to get a computer," she said. "None of this would be happening if warrant's weren't issued and served by the (Nevada County) Sheriff's Office. We're all working well together.

"But, we'd have a better chance of collecting the fines if we can get a computer."

Glass expects to collect a large part of the fines owed to the city and county. Approximately $181,465 is owed to the City of Prescott in old fines, while more than $225,000 is owed to the county. This is a total of more than $406,000 owed in old fines.

Fines owed to the city range from $10 to more than $1,600 per individual.

Hale said the court will do everything possible to work with people so they can get their situation with fines current. In many cases, he said, the court will work out a payment plan.

However, for those who simply refuse to pay, warrants will be issued for their arrest.

Hale said when he took office on Jan. 1, 1997, he began studying the problem. Working with the Municipal Clerk's office, the NCSO, Prescott Police Department and Arkansas State Police, the results started showing quickly.

"These things (offenses) happened in the past," Hale said. "We decided to review them and work on them. We're not hard to work with, but the people need to make an effort to pay."

The oldest fines on the books, which are being sought to be paid, are from 1990. The clerk's office has three ledgers for the city and another three for the county with the outstanding fines owed.

Those notified of owing old fines can make arrangements to attend municipal court, which is held twice monthly, or go to the NCSO or City Hall to pay up. The clerk's office, however, won't know a fine has been paid until after court has been held.

"I feel good we can collect a large part of the fines," Glass said. "If we can get $7,000 in two months, what can we do in 12 months.

"We don't want people's bodies," she continued. "We'd rather they pay the fines."

Hale and Glass agree all agencies involved are working well together toward accomplishing this goal.

"Everyone's been upbeat and helpful," Hale said. "We want everyone to know we're doing our best to collect these fines."

However, Glass and Hale agree all outstanding fines cannot be collected. This, they said, is because some of those owing the fines are in prison, others have moved out of state and still others have died in the interim.

But, they agree they should be able to collect the majority of the money owed in these fines.

Hale thanked the Nevada County Quorum Court, Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown and Circuit Clerk Carolyn Steed for the help they've given in the effort.

The Municipal Clerk's Office got Steed's old copier after the Circuit Clerk's Office got a new one, and the quorum court agreed to fund a service contract for the old copier.

This, Hale said, has helped the effort tremendously.

"We're moving in the right direction," he said. "We're following the law and everyone is getting due process. We're doing all we can do for the good of the community.

"We're serious about this."