The Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office gave citizens a one-time opportunity to pay outstanding county traffic tickets in full, restore their driving privileges and save the 40 percent collection agency fee — and they lined up by the hundreds to take advantage.
The clerk’s office collected $509,166 — approximately $1,200 a minute — and processed 1,923 cases during “Operation Green Light.” The office set a single-day record for traffic and criminal fines and fees paid. On a typical day, clerks collect approximately $104,371.
There were 447 licenses cleared for reinstatement during Operation Green Light. Before the event last month, nearly 172,000 traffic cases in Palm Beach County had been sent to a collection agency for non-payment, with approximately $36.5 million in unpaid fines and fees. Operation Green Light was the first time a clerk’s office in Florida waived the 40 percent collection agency fees. Many traveled long distances to take advantage of it.
“We knew that people would want to take advantage of this opportunity. Operation Green Light’s success can be measured by the number of citizens who will now be driving legally,” Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock said. “I want to thank everyone on my team who worked extremely hard and made this day such a tremendous success.”
