[LISTEN] Jamestown Parking Fine Amnesty Program Proposed for April 2016

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JAMESTOWN – The city of Jamestown is hoping to collect past due money from residents and visitors alike.

On Monday night Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi explained to the city council that there is more than $1,380,000 in outstanding revenue owed to the city. More than $885,000 is due unpaid fees associated with required demolitions, property maintenance, court fees, alarm responses, and other miscellaneous charges. In addition, $498,000 comes from overdue parking tickets and Teresi is hoping to recoup some of that money starting next month.

As part of his 2016 State of the City report, Teresi said he would like took into a parking ticket amnesty program, similar to one instituted by the city in 2009. Monday night the mayor offered more details on the program, adding that if the city council gives its approval, he’d like to see it initiated starting April 1 and continuing for the entire month.

Under the guidelines of the amnesty program, people with unpaid parking fines would only have to pay the face value of the original ticket, not any additional fines associated with the violation. The mayor believes this could result in a significant amount of revenue that would help the city’s 2016 budget.

The proposal is not unprecedented. The last time the city implemented such a program was in 2009, when it netted $116,000. Teresi said that year there was actually a lower amount owed in overdue tickets, meaning there’s a chance that the city could net even more money this time around.

The amnesty program will need to be approved by the Jamestown City Council before going into effect. Lawmakers will vote on the matter during the March 28 voting session. If approved, anyone who has an overdue fine will be notified of the amnesty program and will have the entire month of April to pay the initial fine.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi during the March 14 Jamestown City Council Meeting.