Rockville Centre police pursue ticket scofflaws

Rockville Centre police earlier this month impounded the vehicle of a scofflaw who had accumulated $2,100 in unpaid parking tickets. The Aug. 5 seizure was the first such action in a new program aimed at collecting outstanding fines.

The police program identifies scofflaws who are then notified by the Village Court that their vehicles are subject to impound, giving the owners an opportunity to pay. If the owner still refuses to satisfy the judgment, the Court can declare the offender a scofflaw and suspend the vehicle’s registration. Police may then impound the vehicle.

“We have people who have accumulated $12,000 in fines,” Police Commissioner Chuck Gennario said. “Ignoring tickets is irresponsible and unfair to those who do pay what they owe. We will not be ignoring these scofflaws,” he said.

Vehicle owners with outstanding tickets should contact the Village Court at (516) 678-9289 for information on clearing their record. Information on outstanding tickets is not available on the Village website, as previously reported. Once a registration has been suspended and the vehicle is impounded, the owner is liable for the full amount of the fines plus penalties plus a $250 towing charge before the suspension can be lifted and the vehicle returned.

The Village Court is currently owed $1.5 million in outstanding fines.