Mayor Announces Cases to be Referred to the Ohio Attorney General

RUTLAND—Delinquent fines owed to the Village of Rutland will now be referred to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Mayor Tyler M. Eblin announced on Friday.

The referrals come following legislation passed by the Rutland Village Council setting forth the procedures for collection of outstanding debt owed to the Village of Rutland through a referral system by the Village Clerk's Office in partnership with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

"Individuals who have been assessed fines and fees by the Rutland Mayor's Court and have failed to remit payment of those fines, or have failed to comply with a payment agreement authorized by the Court, after two written notices, will be referred to the Ohio Attorney General," comments Mayor Eblin.

According to Mayor Eblin, those receiving a traffic ticket or misdemeanor citation not requiring personal appearance by the Rutland Police Department must either pay the fine set forth on the ticket, or appear in Court if contesting the ticket is desired. The fine must be paid in full on or before the Court date and time as indicated at the heading of the ticket. If the defendant is unable to pay the fine in full, but does not desire to contest the ticket, he or she must appear in the Clerk of Court's Office and enter into a payment agreement approved by the Clerk of Court. The payment agreement must thereafter be adhered to until the balance of the fine is paid in full.

Those receiving a misdemeanor citation requiring personal appearance or summons to appear in lieu of arrest must appear, in person, before the Mayor or Magistrate to answer to the charge(s) on the citation or summons. If a person is convicted of the offense(s) and is assessed a fine, the person must pay the fine in the full on or before the date set by the Court, or in accordance with the payment agreement issued by the Court.

The Clerk of Court's Office is tasked with monitoring all payment agreements issued by the Court. If a defendant becomes delinquent on a payment agreement, the Clerk of Court's Office will issue a fail to pay notice providing an opportunity for the defendant to remit the balance owed in full. If the defendant fails to respond to the first notice, a second notice will be issued. If the defendant fails to respond to the second notice, the case will be referred to the Ohio Attorney General's Office and will be closed in the Rutland Mayor's Court.

Mayor Eblin explains once a case has been referred to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Court can no longer negotiate with the defendant. The Ohio Attorney General's Office will begin collection enforcement, which may include garnishment of wages and property liens.