Phoenix residents with past-due traffic fines now have more options for repaying the city. What’s known as the Compliance Assistance Program will allow people to settle their charges in more affordable installments.
Beginning Monday, interested residents can talk to court staff to set up a payment plan for their overdue citation fines. Officials said each one will be tailored to fit into an individual’s financial situation.
Laura Lowery is a Phoenix municipal court judge, said under most situations, driving privileges will be reinstated after someone makes a “pay today” payment and completes registration.
"All of this will be helpful for those individuals that want to be in compliance," said Lowery. "And that’s most of the people that we see. They want to follow the law, it just becomes to where they can’t."
Officials said the new system should reduce some of the city's $283 million fine backlog. But they contend the main goal is to end the “vicious cycle” that some residents can end up in, with fines and surcharges they can't pay but continue to increase.
