Raleigh going after unpaid parking tickets

The city sent 4,000 letters Monday to people who have unpaid parking citations, and officials said more mailings are planned.

The move is part of a new collection method approved last spring by the City Council.

Effective Dec. 15, the city can intercept the state income tax refund of anyone with more than $50 in unpaid parking citations that are more than six months delinquent in order to pay off the bill.

People will be given a 30-day notice before the city takes action to give them one final shot at paying off their debt and avoid having their tax refund intercepted, officials said.

Raleigh had more than $2 million in uncollected parking fines earlier this year. As of Wednesday, that number was down to $1.6 million.

There are 16,000 people with unpaid tickets in the city. The most money owed by one account is $1,568.

People also can pay off their tickets in person at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St., or the City of Raleigh ParkLink Office, One Bank of America Plaza, 421 Fayetteville St., Suite S-002.