Get ready to pony up!
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 17 November 2015 18:07
- Written by Paul Gordon
So, you know those parking tickets you never paid, figuring by now you’ve gotten away with it?
Think again.
The City of Peoria announced it has joined with the State of Illinois under the Local Debt Recovery Program to collect on all outstanding parking tickets, for which there are currently 15,639 open cases with outstanding fees totaling $1,837,730.
It’s no surprise the city is eager to collect. That why it has joined the Local Debt Recovery Program, which allows local governments to collect unpaid debts on parking tickets and other fines. Under this program, which was enacted in 2011, the fine or parking fees can be deducted from a person’s state tax refund, lottery winnings or even their payroll check, the city said. It cannot, however, be deducted from a state retirement check.
The amount collected is deposited in the state Comptroller’s Local Debt Recovery Fund. Any person affected receives a letter from the state and are given 60 days to protest. If the debtor doesn’t contest, the amount is transferred to the local government after this time frame.
In the case of multiple fines owed by one person, state and federal agencies are paid first, followed by local government agencies, the city said.
Noting that 40 percent of the outstanding parking cases were from non-residents, Peoria City Treasurer Patrick Nichting ssaid, “During this time of budget discussions when the citizens of Peoria could be faced with additional taxes and fees, it’s critical to collect on unpaid and overdue fines. As we proceed in the coming year, we will seek to add to other outstanding fines and fees.”
Nichting said that anyone concerned with the possibility of any outstanding fines may contact the Treasurer’s office at (309) 494-8545 and get directions to pay immediately to prevent any additional cost.
