Collection fees to be waived by Sarasota County Clerk of Court from Oct. 14-18 as part of statewide initiative Operation Green Light

Clerk’s office also extends hours to 7 p.m. for those dates

Image courtesy Sarasota County Clerk of Court and County Comptroller

From Oct. 14 through Oct. 18, Sarasota County residents will have an opportunity to avoid late payments on traffic tickets and court fines through a statewide initiative called Operation Green Light, the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office has announced.

During Operation Green Light, the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office has been authorized to waive collection agency fees — some as high as 25% — for anyone who pays off in full his or her court obligations or signs up for a monthly payment plan, a news release explains.

Florida law “requires the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office to turn over unpaid tickets and other outstanding court fines and fees to an outside collection agency if the debt is not paid within 90 days of the due date,” the release adds.

Additionally, the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office is offering extended hours — 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. — in Sarasota and Venice during the week of Oct. 14-18, to provide greater assistance to customers, the release points out. “Customers who pay their debts in full, or establish a monthly payment plan, may also be able to reinstate their suspended driver license,” the release emphasizes.

The news release says the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office “will accept payments for all Sarasota County traffic tickets and court fines.” However, “Only customers whose overdue ticket or court case have been turned over to a collection agency will save on collection agency fees during Operation Green Light.”

The office will accept cash; a check or money order, made payable to Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller;and credit card, which is subject to a 3.5% processing fee.

Additionally,for payment in full, customers can pay by phone from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the release explains.

During the special extended hours of 5 to 7 p.m., payments must be made in person, at either the Sarasota Main Office or Venice Branch Office location, the release says.

A person wishing to start a new payment plan must visit either the Sarasota or Venice office location between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. during Operation Green Light week, the release notes.

Further, the release explains, “If you have a ticket and need more time to pay, apply for a payment plan [during] Operation Green Light. You can also apply for a payment plan for criminal and misdemeanor cases with outstanding court fines, costs, and fees.”

Additionally, it says, “If you pay your debt in full, or establish a monthly payment plan, during Operation Green Light, you will be able to reinstate your driver license, in most cases. An additional $60.00 reinstatement fee is required.”

The release points out, “If you have outstanding tickets or court fines due in more than one Florida county, you will need to satisfy all outstanding obligations in each of county, before your license can be reinstated. Other Florida Clerks are also hosting Operation Green Light events.”

Anyone with questions, may visit the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office website or Florida Clerks and Comptrollers.

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