WRAL reports that court-ordered restitution can sometimes come in very, very small increments:
When Jim Finn’s car was vandalized in 2001, he did not expect a headache four years later. He got a $3.60 check for court-ordered restitution. At that rate, Finn will get the entire $173.45 he is owed by 2007.
“I figured I was going to get a check. It turns out I’ve gotten many checks — many, tiny little checks,” Finn said. “I would love my money back.”
My single tiny little question is this: how much does it cost the taxpayers to produce and mail the check, then process it once it’s cashed? Because we’re going to do it 49 times for this individual, assuming no interest accrues. And there are ten other people dividing up the perp’s $150 restitution payment.
There’s got to be a better way on small amounts like this. The Legislature is working on it but any thing which starts out this wordy tends to get more convoluted.
