Stephens Co. Approves Court Fee Ordinance

Stephens County Commissioners approve a court fee ordinance.

Commissioners approved the new ordinance by a 4-1 vote at their meeting on Tuesday.

According to Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck, the proposed ordinance would impose a court fee on any fine or community service sentence from the Magistrate Court, State Court, or Superior Court for any violation of any county ordinances or state law.

Ranck said the court fee would be $10 and is designed to help offset the costs of running the county’s court system.

County Commissioner Debbie Whitlock voted against the court fee ordinance.

She said she feels there are already too many fees placed upon people in the court system.

“That is the truth of the matter,” said Whitlock. “There are so many fees that it is not funny. A lot of these people do not have the money to pay that. They will go in there with a $500 fine and come out with over $1,000 (owed) and that is not including probation fees. That is just fees they tack on and tack on.”

County commissioners held two public hearings on the new ordinance and there were no comments from the public either in favor of or in opposition to the new ordinance.

It is unclear how much money the new court fee ordinance will generate for the county.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said that the funds that are generated will go to directly into the county’s general fund.

There is also no word on when the new court fee ordinance will take effect.