WEST UNION -- The Fayette County Attorney's Office is taking an active role in collecting unpaid court fines following a change in state law in how proceeds are divvied up.

With the switch, the attorney's office can keep some of the money.

" I do not know an exact figure, but I would guess we have hundreds of thousands of dollars of unpaid fines," Assistant County Attorney Nathan Lien said.

With that in mind, the office hired a person part time to help collect the fines. The employee spends one day a week on the task.

Lien said filing proper paperwork with the state increases the odds of collecting unpaid fines:

Lien has seen examples of people with unpaid fines going back up to three years who suddenly discover they can't register a vehicle until paying their fine or at least agreeing to a payment plan.

He noted there is more than $400 million in unpaid fines statewide and said some larger counties employ full-time staff members for collection.

Lien said several years ago Assistant County Attorney Jay Villont collected $50,000 in unpaid court fines but all of those funds went into the county's general fund.

Because the office wasn't compensated for the staff person's salary, the practice ended.

Contact Jeff Bradley at

jbrads@alpinecom.net.