Bill Collector Recoups Thousands in Fines at Zero Cost to City

By Mark Reiter, Toldeo Blade

Unpaid court fees finally caught up with Howard Pack – nearly a decade after he was slapped with a fine in Toledo (OH) Municipal Court.

Mr. Pack was found guilty in 1997 of a misdemeanor traffic offense and was ordered to pay $71 in fines and court costs. But his debt went unpaid until Nov. 5 when a collection agency tracked him down at his Tennessee home and persuaded him to pay.

Mr. Pack is among thousands who have settled debts with Toledo Municipal Court after the accounts were sent to Capital Recovery System, which specializes in collecting unpaid fines, taxes, and fees for courts and cities.

The court has received nearly $450,000 in outstanding fees since April, when officials began sending old cases to the private agency based in Gahanna, Ohio. The court has forwarded about 51,000 cases worth $5.4 million in unpaid fines and court costs to the company.

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