Duson offers residents a new way to pay off fines

Renee Allen
·2 min read

DUSON, La. (KLFY) — Got a traffic ticket or misdemeanor fine in Duson? There may be a chance to pay it off at $10 per hour, that is if you’re willing to cleanup liter, dig a ditch or clean a cop car.

Police Chief Kid Judice explains there were a lot of unpaid fines in magistrate court which deals mainly with traffic fines or misdemeanor violators. The police department has opened the door for those fines to be paid off, given the person is willing to pick up liter around town for ten dollars per hour and until the IOU is paid off.

“If the fine is $200 they work 20 hours, their fine is erased and the judge acknowledges that. In exchange the community gets a service we don’t have to pay for; otherwise, we would have to hire someone to keep the community clean,” Judice said.

The chief recalls a situation where two teens were caught pulling up stop signs at intersections.   As opposed to them being arrested and put into the criminal justice system, the chief offered them to dig a trench along the police department for a pipe to be installed for a generator, a job that would have cost the department $1,800.

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In fact, the chief says it’s not about the money. The payoff effort can give the PD access to young people before they get into big trouble.

“Specifically juvenile crimes to keep them out of the criminal justice system all together. Jump on them at 14, 13 years old and get them picking up trash, make them wash police cars, make them come to the police station and interact with police officers while they mop the floors. Build relationships with those kids who are at-risk, then maybe we can save one or two,” Judice added.

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