HOLLAND (WTHC-AM) — Your lead foot whilie driving may have a silver lining for area libraries, according to Ottawa County officials.
A portion of the fines paid to the courts from criminal violations and civil infractions (such as traffic tickets) is distributed to area libraries. This year, Ottawa County fines netted the nine public libraries a total of $849,762.
The Michigan State Constitution of 1963, requires that all penalties collected for violations of the state penal laws be divide into court costs, statutory fees, and penal fees. The penal fines support public libraries and a county law library.
“Prior year payouts have ranged from $700,000 to over $950,000 depending on the number of citations written,” said Shannon Felgner, Ottawa County spokesperson.
Many library directors rely on penal fine revenue to provide physical and electronic resources, programming and services for library patrons, she said
The amount paid to each public library is based on a percentage of the county population living in the area which each library serves, based on Library of Michigan-Department of Education data.
Here’s how libraries benefitted:
- Allendale Township: $91,105.97
- Coopersville Area District: $38,210.19
- Georgetown Township: $151,349.35
- Jamestown Township, Patmos $22,658.12
- Herrick District: $266,521.10
- Gary Byker Memorial, $35,378.74
- Loutit District, $114,482.41
- Spring Lake District, $58,819.61
