If you have unpaid traffic or criminal fine, now might be the best time to try and pay them off.
Several counties in Central Florida are offering to waive the usual collection surcharge of 20–40 percent, depending on the county, during "Operation Green Light."
The operation was designed to encourage people who have outstanding criminal and traffic fines to get them paid and, in many cases, get their legal driving privileges reinstated.
Each participating county is evaluating how effective amnesty days like this help in collecting outstanding fines.
Hundreds of people lined up at all Orange County Clerk of Courts locations Friday starting at 8 a.m.
Some people at the clerk's office in downtown Orlando on Friday said they didn't even know the program was going on, but they took advantage of it when they learned all the details.
"I was originally coming out here to pay a ticket for someone else, because their license was suspended," said Alexandra Gotay. "I got stopped at the door and was told, 'If you have something in collections, you could pay it.' I said, hey, I might as well try and save some money."
Participating counties in Central Florida
Here's where to pay your outstanding fines to get the usual surcharge waived during Operation Green Light around Central Florida:
COUNTY | DATES & TIMES |
LOCATIONS | SURCHARGE WAIVED |
---|---|---|---|
Brevard |
Saturday, April 18 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Moore Justice Center 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera |
25% |
Flagler | Friday, April 17 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Kim C. Hammond Justice Center 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 1, Bunnell |
40% |
Lake | Saturday, April 18 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Lake County Courthouse 550 W. Main St., Tavares |
25% |
Marion | Satrurday, April 18 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Marion County Clerk’s Office 110 N.W. 1st Ave., Ocala |
20% |
Orange | Friday, April 17 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Orange Co. Courthouse - 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Apopka (Friday only) - 1111 N. Rock Springs Road Winter Park (Friday only) - 450 N. Lakemont Ave. Goldenrod - 684 Goldenrod Road Ocoee - 475 W. Story Road |
40% |
Osceola | Saturday, April 18 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Osceola County Courthouse 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee |
40% |
Volusia |
Saturday, April 18 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Volusia County Clerk of Circuit Court 101 N. Alabama Ave. DeLand |
40% |
Most counties in the area are only waiving the surcharge on Saturday, including in Lake County, where the clerk of courts said he wanted to open on a Saturday to make it easier for people to pay, and in many cases get their licenses back.
Flagler County, however, is only holding the amnesty event on Friday. As of noon, 47 people in Flagler paid court obligations, and nine others have had their driver's licenses reinstalled. The county collected $13,000 in just the first four hours.
No personal checks will be accepted, but money orders and cashier's checks are OK. You can also use a major credit card, as long as you're willing to be charged a convenience fee.