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Phoenix steps up collection efforts By MEG LANDERS PHOENIX � The city of Phoenix is owed about a quarter of a million dollars in delinquent fines, mostly in unpaid traffic tickets. Most of these fines date back to 1995 and earlier, before a more efficient tracking and collection system was in place, according to City Recorder Betty Smith. City officials are frustrated with tracking down the missing money and say they could really use the funds. But the city may get the last word. City workers are in the time-consuming process of re-suspending driver licenses of those with outstanding citations, Smith said. She explains that when someone in another state goes to get their license renewed, and this old Phoenix fine comes up, they have to take care of it before they can get a new license. In some cases, the method is working. "It has been slowly coming in," she said. Some people may have just $60 to pay on their balance. Others have more than that. "There�s one person in there that�s got over $1,800," Smith said. While part of the money from fines goes to the state and/or county, the majority goes to the city�s general fund, she said. "That�s dollars that the community has coming to them," she said. "We�d be derelict in our duty if we didn�t try to collect them." Collection efforts have been difficult, however. "A collection agency didn�t want them," Smith said. "They wouldn�t even touch the ones that were a couple of years old." Smith adds that most people with outstanding fines are not Phoenix residents, and are too difficult to track. The city has also tried programs to encourage payment. One offered an amnesty period allowing license reinstatement to those who would pay half their balance, and another offered monthly payment plans. Neither program had much impact. Bob Kershaw, Phoenix chief of police, said most of the fines are from traffic tickets. "It�s anything from minor equipment violations to things like driving while suspended, driving while uninsured, and speeding," Kershaw said. As departments are presenting their annual budget to a city committee, Kershaw would like to see a more aggressive pursuit of these fines. He says his department is just squeaking by. "It�s a bare-bones budget," Kershaw said. "It doesn�t leave a lot to do as far as planning for new programs are concerned." "We sure could use some money," said Mayor Larry Parducci, who was the first to tally the delinquent fines several years ago. "We could put it in parks, we could start doing something with the city park," he said. He also says Phoenix needs a new city hall, and he�d like to see the city hall, fire department, and police department in the same location. Kershaw plans to discuss the delinquent fines at the next City Council meeting. "If the council decides they want to do something about it," Parducci said, " then we�ll take another stab at it." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.