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Youngstown signs a deal with a collection agency for delinquent civil speed violators
YOUNGSTOWN
The city’s board of control approved a two-year deal with an Illinois company to serve as its collection agency to go after delinquent civil speeding violators.
The board voted 3-0 Friday on the contract that will give Municipal Collections of America 25 percent of whatever it collects from those who haven’t paid the fees that range from $100 to $150, depending on the speed, with up to $60 in late fees.
“We want the company to make its best efforts to collect,” said Mayor John A. McNally, chairman of the board of control. “We need to do it to support the program and support those who pay. This will make it fair for everyone. The money will help us purchase police equipment and school signage.”
The speed-camera program started Aug. 18, 2015, with 5,051 citations issued through the end of the year. Of that amount, 52 percent – 2,064 – paid the fees.
On a $150 citation with $60 in late fees, MCA would get $52.50 for each collection.
The city’s contract with Optotraffic, the Maryland company that provided the speed cameras and processes and mails the citations, has Youngstown getting 65 percent of the citation fee and the company receiving 35 percent.
However, when the payment is late – at least 30 days from the date it’s mailed – the split becomes 55 percent for the city and 45 percent for Optotraffic under the contract.
In a scenario with a $150 citation and $60 in late fees, after MCA’s cut, Youngstown would get $53.63 and Optotraffic would receive $43.87.
The program has officers issue civil citations rather than stop speeders and give moving violations with a fine and points on their driving records.
Speeders face civil penalties of $100 for driving up to 12 mph over the speed limit, $125 for 13 to 19 mph over the limit, and $150 for those driving at least 20 mph over the limit.
If a citation isn’t paid 30 days after it’s mailed, a $20 late fee is assessed. The fee increases by another $20 after 60 days, and then by another $20 after 90 days.
The late fee will not exceed $60.