Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed waives fine and fees that are more than 10 years old
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed has signed an executive order that eliminates many municipal fines and fees that have been unpaid for more than ten years.
Reed’s order applies to municipal fees associated with most non-DUI traffic tickets, misdemeanor marijuana possession and Class C misdemeanors. Only fines and fees assessed before Jan. 1, 2014, are eligible for relief.
“This order reflects a broader change in how we approach justice in Montgomery. We are transitioning from a solely punitive focus to one that encourages a change in behavior while mitigating long-lasting detrimental consequences,” Reed said. “These initiatives will ensure that financial burden doesn’t dictate who succeeds and who struggles in our city. Our priority is safe streets and a more vibrant community for everyone.
According to the mayor’s office, on average, Alabama residents with court debt owe about $2,000 from fines and fees. In Montgomery, this unpaid debt totals an estimated $40 million.
The order will not eliminate balances owed to the state as a result of municipal convictions.
According to an Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice investigation, more than 80% of those statewide with outstanding court debts are forced to choose between paying their traffic ticket debt or paying for essentials like rent, groceries, medicine or utilities, and at least 50% have been jailed for failing to pay their court debt, the mayor’s office said.
Reed’s order was prepared after a year-long discussion with members of the mayor’s Fines and Fees Advisory Cohort. This panel included representatives from the Montgomery Municipal Justice Center, Montgomery County Family Court Division, City Planning, the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, the Southern Poverty Law Center and others.
The mayor’s office says the executive order is not a pardon; it does not remove the offense from a person’s record. Those eligible for relief under this order can request information about what’s included in the waiver beginning on April 5.
