I read an interesting article in yesterday's Chicago Sun Times concerning that city's stepped-up efforts to collect more than $8 million allegedly owed by its top 1000 parking ticket scofflaws. According to the article, City Hall will attempt to collect the unpaid fines through waves of lawsuits brought against the "most wanted" violators. This enforcement effort, coupled with an amnesty program for folks owing less than $5,000, is intended to send the signal that ignoring parking tickets will no longer be tolerated.
This brings up a number of questions for list members and city officials. 1. Does the city of Minneapolis (or Hennepin County) have a similar problem with unpaid parking violations? 2. If so, would unpaid parking fines be a significant source of revenue for the city in this period of tight budgets and soaring costs? Or is the amount owed inconsequential? 3. Does the city of Minneapolis currently use the "boot" to encourage violators to pay outstanding tickets? And if not, why not? 4. Would a parking ticket amnesty program work here? Here's the link for the Sun-Times story: http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-park31.html Dennis Jon Fuller/Tangletown - Sixth Park District _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
