The City of Westfield police headquarters located on Washington St. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD- The Westfield Police Department has begun employing a new policy addressing delinquent payments of city ordinance violations.
Those found to have violated city ordinances who do not pay the fine or file for an appeal in the allotted time will now receive a letter from the police as a final warning.
People who receive such a letter will no longer have the option of filing for appeal and must pay the fine.
If one does not pay the fine in time, they will face criminal charges.
“We will bring you to court for contempt of a city ordinance violation,” says Westfield Police Captain Michael McCabe.
A person who does receive a letter from the police should note that they are not facing charges for the original event they were cited for, but rather for the failure to pay the fine itself.
“The only way for us to bring about a complaint is to bring forth a criminal court hearing for the fine, but not based on the event itself,” says McCabe.
Captain McCabe emphasized that the letter is not a legal document but rather a courtesy from the police department. One is responsible for paying the fine whether or not they receive a letter.
