Parking ticket 'amnesty' in Rockville Centre through Dec. 15

The Rockville Centre Board of Trustees has approved a parking ticket “amnesty” program that will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 with the hope that it will bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in uncollected fines.

“This is not really an ‘amnesty,’” Comptroller Michael Schussheim said at the Oct. 17 board meeting. “The program addresses our parking ticket backlog, but the infractions are not being forgiven.”

Scofflaws, who in some cases have amassed thousands of dollars in unpaid parking tickets and penalties, are being given the opportunity to pay half of the total fines they incurred between 2005 and 2010. This is only the second amnesty program in the history of the court.

Village Justice William Croutier, Jr. said that approximately 6,800 letters will be mailed during the week of Oct. 24 informing scofflaws of the opportunity to cut their obligation in half.

The fines may be paid in person or by mail.