Adding 30% to All Fines and Fees is Not Justice, It’s Exploitation. This practice is not just a financial burden; it’s a moral injustice that we cannot afford to ignore.
When someone owes fines or fees in Hays County, the process varies depending on which court imposes the penalty. If it is from the District Court, the County Treasurer collects the payment directly, without charging interest and offering flexible payment plans to help defendants fulfill their obligations.
However, in County Court, a starkly different scenario unfolds. The court delegates collections to a private company, which tacks on an additional 30% surcharge. This unjust practice significantly exacerbates the financial burden on working families, making it even more challenging to settle their debts. If a person falls behind, the county is forced to issue arrest warrants, further criminalizing those who are already struggling, triggering potentially devastating consequences that can persist for life. This is immoral, unethical, and unjust. And it’s costly for taxpayers, including the issuance of the arrest warrant, law enforcement’s arrest, and the defendant’s incarceration.
The County Treasurer has repeatedly offered to handle these collections for the County Courts, assuring the same interest-free, flexible process they currently use for the District Courts.
Hays County deserves a judge who will put justice above politics and profit. If elected, I will work toward ending this unjust exploitation and the wasteful expenditure of taxpayer dollars.