Bill to limit Municipal court funding to city's budget is heard in Senate committee
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Bill to limit Municipal court funding to city's budget is heard in Senate committee

Date: March 16, 2016
By: Devon Yarbrough
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB 572

Intro: 
A Senate-passed plan to limit municipal court fines ran into opposition before a House committee.
RunTime: 0:39
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: The measure would expand last year's law limiting how much of a city budget can be financed by city court fines.

But Kansas City Municipal Housing Judge, Todd Wilcher spoke critically saying that the fines were not about money, but being able to enforce the law.

Actuality:  WILCHER.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: So it's the possibility of a jail sentence that motivates people to resolve these issues. Without the possibility of a jail sentence, without the posssibilty of a high fine it's very difficult to motivate some people.

 

Wilcher said that he concerned about the safety of his city and that law enforcement was needed to ensure public safety.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Devon Yarbrough.

Intro: 
A Senate-passed plan to limit municipal court fines ran into opposition before a House committee.
RunTime: 0:43
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: Buckner Municipal Court Judge in Western Missouri, David Lagrasso said the bill would let those who violate municipal codes go freely.

But the bill's sponsor -- St. Louis County's Eric Schmitt said charged city courts were abusing their powers to finance city budget.

Actuality:  SCHMITT.WAV
Run Time: 00:17
Description: All of us gained a better understanding of the abuses that were taking place accross the state. In particular in St. Louis County, but accross the state. Where citizens were being used as nothing more than ATMs by governments seeking more and more revenue by way of traffic tickets and fines.

Schmitt's bill would a cap passed last year on how much of a city's budget can be financed by municipal court fines.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Devon Yarbrough

Intro: 
A Senate bill to restrict how much of city budgets can be financed by court fines ran into harsh questioning before the House Crime Committee
RunTime: 0:32
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: Committee members questioned the impact of the budget restrictions on city services.Tns were fined.

St. Louis County Gina Mitten:

Actuality:  MITTENX.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: We can fine them. we can summon them. We can cite them, and they can noy just ignore it. I don't know how I'm supposed to go back and tell my constituents that I support this legilation, when all that they want is their neighborhoods take care of.

 

Last year, the legislature passed a limit on how much of a city's budget could be financed by traffic fines.

This year's bill passed by the Senate would impose that limit to all municipal court fines.