June 1, 2006 - Clerk of Court Begins Sending Delinquent Fines to Collection Agency

St. Lucie County Clerk of Circuit Court, Edwin M. Fry, Jr., has contracted with S.C. Services & Associates of Lake City, Florida for collection services. Section 28.246, Florida Statutes provides for the Clerk of Circuit Court to pursue the collection of any fees, service charges, fines and court costs that remain unpaid for 90 days or more. The statute allows for a collection fee of 40 percent of the amount owed, to be paid to the collection agent, to be added to the balance owed.

On May 30, 2006 the Clerk began sending civil infractions, including civil traffic citations, which are delinquent more than 90 days from date of issuance to the collection agency. The approximate number of cases for civil infractions being referred to collections for the violation dates of July 1, 1999 through December 31, 2005 is 30,000. The outstanding balance is approximately $3,350,000.

Once the accounts are referred to the collection agency, the Clerk of Circuit Court will not accept payments. All payments must then be made to S.C. Services & Associates.

For more information, contact the Clerk of Circuit Courts office at (772) 871-7231.