Ferguson City Council plans changes this week that will reduce the importance of traffic fines and fees to the city’s budget, a communications firm representing the St. Louis suburb’s government announced on Monday.
The role of revenue from traffic stops in the budgets of towns in the St. Louis region has come under scrutiny since protests over the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown put the area's anger against police on the national stage. In 2013, for example, Ferguson -- which has just over 21,000 residents -- issued nearly 33,000 arrest warrants for nonviolent offenses, mostly driving violations.
In response, Ferguson City Council plans to take up an ordinance Tuesday night that would cap revenue from court fines at 15 percent of all the money the city takes in each year. The measure would earmark excess revenue for “special community projects instead of general revenue purposes,” according to a press release.
The move is intended to send a “clear message that the fines imposed as punishment in the municipal court are not to be viewed as a source of revenue,” and to encourage "alternative methods of sentencing, such as community service,” according to the press release.
The City Council also will attempt to repeal a “failure to appear” ordinance as well as administrative fees “which may impact low-income persons to a greater extent than others,” such as a $25 administrative fee charged by the city for arranging the towing of vehicles.
For the rest of this story by reporter Ryan J. Reilly, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...ement_n_5787714.html
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