Chickasaw County to place virtual registration holds for delinquent New Hampton parking tickets; county to collect $5 fee

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on June 9 authorized the county treasurer’s office to place registration holds on vehicles with delinquent parking tickets issued by the city of New Hampton and collect the fines at the time of registration.

Treasurer Matt Icebrand presented the proposal after the New Hampton police chief requested assistance collecting unpaid parking tickets that have proven difficult to collect. Icebrand explained the county would place a hold on registration for license plates associated with delinquent tickets when those vehicles present for county registration services; upon payment the county would collect an additional $5 administrative fee and remit fines to the city.

Icebrand said similar arrangements exist with other jurisdictions, that the $5 is an added fee retained by the county for administrative processing, and that the county can only place holds for tickets tied to vehicles registered in Chickasaw County. He told the board he had consulted with counsel and that the approach is authorized by state statute as reflected in the county’s draft agreement.

A motion to enter the agreement was made and seconded; the board approved the agreement on roll call, 4–0, with one supervisor absent. Icebrand and county staff will work out transfer and reporting procedures and return to the board if administrative processes require further amendment.