The State Court of Georgia’s Fulton County has joined the Office of the Solicitor General to bring residents a new traffic amnesty program that will help them clear their driving records.
The program, which began on September 5, gives drivers within Fulton County the option to resolve unpaid citations they may have.
“The purpose of the Amnesty Program is to help restore driving records for as many drivers as possible as well as to allow citizens to handle any outstanding charges, all at one time, often with reduced fines,” said State Court Chief Judge Diane Bessen.
Residents who participate in the program could see reduced traffic fines of up to 80 percent. However, the program primarily provides aid for offenses that do not have any victims involved.
“A valid driver’s license is a vital link to employment, independence and long-term individual and family stability,” Fulton County Solicitor Keith Gammage said. “For those with unpaid traffic tickets, insurmountable court fines have led to the loss of the privilege to drive, leaving little realistic hope of ever climbing out from under it. This amnesty program can help relieve some of those barriers to success.”
Lawmakers took into account low-risk traffic charges that could be resolved without the need to see a judge in court when creating the amnesty program. However, residents with certain violations, such as no proof of insurance and failure to maintain car insurance, will still be required to appear in court. County residents caught violating auto insurance laws will need to visit the Fulton State Court Amnesty Program office and request a hearing with a judge before being eligible for a fine reduction.
Drivers who are not interested in a fine reduction and would rather contest their outstanding traffic citations will also be eligible to request a hearing.
“Any person who resolves an outstanding traffic citation through the amnesty program will receive documentation to submit to the Georgia Department of Driver Services or any other agency, if necessary, to assist in restoring a driving record,” Chief Clerk of the Fulton State Court LeNora Ponzo said.
Fulton county residents interested in partaking in the amnesty program can apply at the Fulton State Court. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at:
160 Pryor St. SW
Suite J135
Atlanta, GA 30303
“In Metropolitan Atlanta, traffic is a problem. So, one of the things we’re trying to do is help people to get their matter resolved so that they can get the appropriate licensing to get back on the road. And to do it in a safe way with less hassle than traditional court processes,” Gammage said.