Courts to resume late penalties, driver’s license suspensions, collection referrals

Minnesota courts will soon resume late penalties and driver’s license suspensions for unresolved citations and collection referrals for past-due payments.

According to the Minnesota Judicial Branch, automated processes that refer court-ordered fines and fees to the Minnesota Department of Revenue for collections will resume on Thursday, Oct. 1. Those automated processes for unresolved citations will resume Dec. 1.

The processes had been temporarily suspended in March due to COVID-19.

Individuals will have the opportunity to resolve their citations before additional consequences are imposed, the judicial branch said. Next month, people with unresolved citations will receive a notice in the mail stating they have 30 days to pay the related fine, set up a payment plan or schedule a hearing or hearing officer appointment to contest their citation.

Fines can be paid online, by mail or in-person in the appropriate county. A hearing can be scheduled by calling 651-281-3219 in the metro or 800-657-3611 outside the metro.