Local court runs late fee forgiveness program

BLOOMFIELD HILLS  — The 48th District Court, located at 4280 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills, is holding a late fee forgiveness program. The program will begin May 1 and end on June 13. During this program, late fees, bench warrant fees and penalties for civil infractions issued within the jurisdictions of the 48th District Court will be forgiven.

In order to be eligible for this program, one must pay off the original fine, cost and Secretary of State clearance fee in full. The 48th District Court serves Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake.

According to Patrick Dunn, the court administrator for the 48th District Court, the court has had the program off and on throughout the years, but since the pandemic, it has been more consistent.

According to the Revised Judicature Act of 1961, which can be viewed by visiting legislature.mi.gov, “Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a person who fails to pay a penalty, fee, or costs in full within 56 days after that amount is due and owing is subject to a late penalty equal to 20% of the amount owed.”

Through the program, the public can be relieved of the late fees, bench warrant fees and penalties that have built up from not paying the fine in time.

“It is a great opportunity for them (the public) to clear up old tickets and pay what the original ticket was and avoid some of those late fees and penalties that were imposed,” Dunn said.

48th District Court Supervisor Heather Wrubel said, “It takes quite a bit of the fines and costs and brings them down so that it would be more manageable for the individual to pay.”

This also may give the public the opportunity to restore their driving privileges, depending on what type of civil infraction it is.

“Hopefully, it will help them with insurance and their driving record and everything else, and they will feel better about knowing that they are out there driving without any tickets hanging over their head,” Dunn said.

There is also a benefit to the court because it provides the opportunity to “clear out the backlog of some of these unpaid tickets from our case management system and to avoid some of the costs and resources that need to be used to continue the collection efforts,” Dunn said.

Money orders or certified checks that are placed in the drop box of the courthouse or sent via U. S. mail to the 48th District Court will be accepted.

Personal and business checks are not acceptable forms of payment and no payment plans may be set up. Cash payments must be done inside the courthouse.

Those looking to pay online can pay with a credit or debit card at 48thdistrictcourt.us. However, a service fee will be added for those who choose that option.

To check eligibility for this program and confirm the amount owed, call the court at (248) 686-5150 or (248) 686-5148, Monday through Friday, between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.