3 Kent Co. courts to offer amnesty program

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Three Kent County district courts will waive fees in an effort to encourage people to resolve any outstanding issues.

The amnesty program is a collaboration between Grand Rapids’ 61st District Court, Kentwood’s 62-B District Court and the 63rd District Court, which covers several Kent County municipalities, the county announced Wednesday in a release. It will run during the months of March and April.

Misdemeanor cases, civil infractions and traffic tickets are all eligible for amnesty, according to the release.

If you qualify for the program, any late fees, bench warrant fees and show cause fees will be waived once you pay the original amount. If there is a warrant for failure to pay, it, too, will be canceled upon payment.

“Our aim with this amnesty program is to provide a pathway for individuals to address their outstanding issues without fear of excessive penalties,” 63rd District Court Administrator Danielle Castillo said. “By waiving fees and warrants, we hope to facilitate a smoother path towards resolution and reconciliation with the law.”

If you agree to a wage assignment, your fees will be removed once you pay the original amount in full, according to the release. And if you can’t pay the full amount but make “a significant payment,” the courts say they will work with you to set up a payment plan.

You can call the courts to make payments, but you have to appear in person for a bench warrant.

To see the full terms of the amnesty program, click here.

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