VAIDEN — People who owe fines to the city of Vaiden must pay by May 6, or they might find themselves riding to jail in a police car.
“They will be jailed until the fine is paid,” Police Chief Allen Vance said.
Vance and the city’s Board of Aldermen say they have been patient long enough, as many citizens have ignored the fines they owe for six or seven years. The city has about $300,000 in unpaid fines.
“Most are traffic violations, simple assault charges or drug or alcohol violations,” he said.
In March, the board voted to collect the delinquent fines by jailing those who will not pay.
Locating some who no longer live in the Vaiden area could be difficult, but Vance says the city will do its best to find them. For those who have moved, Municipal Court Clerk Sonya Greenleaf will try to get addresses and notify them. If they are located and do not respond, another law enforcement agency can be notified.
“We can fax a warrant, and they can detain them for us,” Vance said.
For new ticket citations, the state requires a current address on the driver’s license, Vance said.
The chief said the city is willing to work with those who owe fines.
“Unless they have drug or alcohol fines, they can work half of the fine off by doing things the city needs like picking up litter,” Vance said. “If they have worked before they can still do it again.
“If you have a job and can’t come and do work for the city, you can send the money.”
Vance said for elderly people on a fixed income or others in hardship situations, the city is willing to work out a payment plan. They might pay a set amount per week or pay as they get their checks, but “we have to collect something,” Vance said.
For those who wish to enter the military or who need a clean record for employment or other endeavors, cleaning up the fines is imperative.
“A lot of people will take care of their business during tax time,” Vance said
City officials hope many will take care of their fines voluntarily without an arrest.
“Pay something. Catch up. Make an agreement and live up to it,” Vance said. “We don’t want to have to jail anyone. But they leave me no choice.”
