By Shira Moolten | [email protected]
South Florida Sun Sentinel
South Florida’s clerks of court will host their annual “Operation Green Light” events in the coming weeks, a designated time during which drivers can get their licenses reinstated without paying collections fees.
Overdue traffic tickets and court fines and fees frequently lead to driver’s license suspensions that Floridians struggle to pay off, snowballing into even bigger costs and sometimes even leading to jail time.
Under Florida law, county clerk’s offices send unpaid tickets and fees to collections agencies after 90 days, and the DMV suspends the driver’s license until the costs are paid off. Those who drive without satisfying those demands can face criminal charges for driving with a suspended license.
From March 3 to March 7, Palm Beach County’s clerk’s office will waive the 25 percent collections fee for any drivers who want to pay off their fines online, in person, or over the phone.
“Operation Green Light provides an opportunity for individuals who want to do the right thing and pay off their fines and other court costs but may need a little help,” Joseph Abruzzo, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Palm Beach County, said in a statement. “By waiving collection agency fees during Operation Green Light, our office and Clerk’s offices throughout Florida allow anyone with an overdue ticket to save money, reinstate their license and drive legally again.”
For those who can’t afford to pay their fees off in full even without the collections fees, the clerk’s offices offer payment plans. Broward County’s clerk’s office will host its own Operation Green Light at the end of the month, from March 31 to April 5, waiving the 33% collections fee, according to its website. Participants can pay in person, online, or by mail.
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade’s will take place from April 21 to May 4.
