Huntington sets scofflaw amnesty for April

Parking scofflaws, here’s your chance to make it right. The town of Huntington has designated April as Parking Ticket Amnesty Month.

From April 1 to April 30, town officials are hoping to recoup about $625,000 in outstanding fines and penalties motorists incurred dating back to Jan. 1, 2005. Those who take advantage of the amnesty will have to pay 60 percent of the total amount owed.

“Not everyone is looking to not just pay the fine, but simply forgot,” Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said. “So here’s an opportunity for people to pay up and an opportunity for the town to bring in dollars.”

Petrone said he thinks the town will be able to cut down on the number of outstanding tickets by 50 percent.

The town has hired Hempstead-based Fundamental Business Service Inc. to administer the program, including mailing notices to people with outstanding tickets informing them of the amnesty period. The company administered amnesty programs in Babylon, Brookhaven and Islip.

If by May 1 tickets have not been paid, the full amount in fines and penalties will be due and the ticket holder will be at risk of other enforcement measures, including the possibility of his or her car being “booted” or a lien being filed for the arrears.

Petrone said he hopes people will seize the opportunity to take responsibility.

“When you start adding up the numbers over the years, it’s a lot of money,” Petrone said.