Since February, Macon-Bibb County’s Municipal Court has waived penalties and additional fees on unpaid, overdue citations, and that continues in the month of March. If a person comes to first floor of City Hall at 700 Poplar Street and pay the entire initial fine, any fees added due to not appearing in court will be waived. This initiative was last used in December 2013, resulting in 153 unpaid and overdue citations being paid. On each of those tickets, the additional $140 fee was waived.

“This is a win, win for the court to minimize its backlog and for the citizens to save money on paying fines, to re-instate their licenses, and to relieve themselves of potential warrants being issued for their arrest,” says Municipal Court Director Terry Bizzell.

For example, if someone has a $161 speeding fine but missed their court date, a “failure to appear” would appear on their record and an additional $140 added. In February and March, if that person comes to Municipal Court and pays the original fine in full, the additional fee will be waived. A letter will be provided for the Department of Driver’s Services in case that “failure to appear” citation has caused their license to be suspended.

Fines can be paid between 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday using cash, cashier’s check, money order, and debit and credit cards. This waiver of additional fees will only be applicable to people paying the initial fine in full during these two months. The initial fees and any additional fines will again be owed beginning April 1, 2015.

For questions about this initiative call 478-751-7154. For more information about Municipal Court, click here.