Since launching a program last January to help people with past-due traffic fines, the city of Phoenix has collected more than $4 million. During a recent City Council meeting, Chief Presiding Judge Don Taylor said nearly 10,000 have signed up for the court’s Compliance Assistance Program.
"I’ve had at least 60 people who owed us this amount of money back from 1989 and many of whom had never paid during that period of time,” he said. “So this was not money that was going to be coming into the city at any given time.”
Participants with overdue traffic fines pay what’s considered a small down payment, the average is $164. They also sign up for monthly payment plans. In exchange, the city notifies the Motor Vehicle Division that the person is in compliance, and his or her driver’s license will be reinstated as long as payments continue and the person meets all other MVD requirements.
Phoenix Municipal Court Compliance Assistance Program (from January - Nov. 14, 2016)
• 9,734 participants, including 3,175 paid in full.
• $164 average down payment.
• $4.8 million collected.
• $4.5 million in additional payment agreements.
