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Local Courts Announce Waiver Program

Some District Courts in Kent County announced a new waiver program that allows residents to settle necessary debts without further penalty or jail time.

Some District Courts in Kent County announced a new waiver program that allows residents to settle necessary debts without further penalty or jail time.

The 61st District Court in Grand Rapids, the 62-B District Court in Kentwood, and the 63rd District Court announced new program on Thursday. It’s a waiver program that allow individuals to comply with court orders by settling their debts.

Specifically, the program addresses outstanding warrants for non-compliance with a court order of fines, fees, court costs and any outstanding traffic or parking tickets that have gone into default or suspension. Debts can be settled without further penalty or incarceration. The waiver program will be effective April 1, 2022 through April 30, 2022.

63rd District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey J. O’Hara says quote, “This is an opportunity for people to settle past due fines with the court without penalty,” said "Qualified applicants will be given fee waivers and have the ability to set up payment plans to resolve matters without the worry of additional penalties or incarceration. We all know the last two years have impacted people in many ways and as a court, we are pleased to offer this to the community during the month of April.”

The 61st, 62-B, and 63rd District Courts guarantee that those who pay in full will not be jailed because of the late payment. If the account is paid in full, the courts will waive all court-imposed late fees or warrant fees except for the $45 License Suspension Reinstatement Fees.

Officials say If an individual is unable to pay in full arrangements may still be able to be made.

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.