According to the Florida Clerk of Courts and Comptroller Association, more than $11.6 million in revenues in statewide fines and fees were collected with more than $4.3 million retained by Clerks of Court last year through Operation Green Light.
Each year Clerks hold an annual driver’s license reinstatement event, known as Operation Green Light. Through this event, drivers have an opportunity to fully pay overdue court fines or apply for a financial plan without paying additional collection fees. Thousands of people are eligible for the program each year, but in a typical year only between 20-35 people take advantage of the program locally.
Operation Green Light is a state-mandated program designed to help residents restore their licenses by paying fines and fees owed or establishing a payment plan to make payments. The goal is to help individuals comply with the law without undue burden and clear their record of outstanding costs. Payment plans are established for reasonable regular payments depending upon the ability to pay. Unfortunately, in 2021, 53% of people that were assessed fines and enrolled in Operation Green Light plans failed to complete their payments. We hope to make this year’s event more successful.
The financial impact of defaulting on fines is passed on to all taxpayers. Fines, fees, and court costs are used to fund public services, as well as dozens of state trust funds that support criminal justice operations. These fines are the main source of funding for Florida’s Circuit and County Court Clerks that provide a vast array of services.
Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court in conjunction with the Collier County Tax Collector’s Office will be holding our Operation Green Light on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Heritage Bay Satellite located at 15450 Collier Blvd., Naples, Florida. Individuals who meet eligibility requirements will have their suspended driver’s license reinstated and get the “green light” to get back on the road. During the event, staff from the Collier County Tax Collector’s Office will be available to reinstate valid licenses.
A person is not eligible for reinstatement if his/her driver’s license or driving privilege has been suspended or revoked due to:
- Failure to fulfill a court-ordered child support obligation;
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI);
- Failure to complete a required driver training program, driver improvement course, or alcohol or substance abuse education or evaluation program;
- A traffic-related felony; or
- Being a habitual traffic offender as defined in Florida Statute 322.264.