Winder Municipal Court to Assess New Fee

Members of the Winder City Council voted Tuesday to assess a $75 municipal court fee for defendants found guilty or who plead guilty on trial dates.

"We want to have the fee so that the folks that really want to take care of their ticket, they’re not just using this as a time to add to their extension,” Leslie Henderson, head of the city's finance department, said during Monday's work session preceding Tuesday's regular business meeting. 

If a defendant is found not guilty or pleads guilty prior to the trial date no fee will be assessed.

"A lot of times the defendant just wants to buy time," City Solicitor Rhonda Leary said during Monday night's work session. "That (fee)would discourage people just from asking for time.”