HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Grace Wheaton regarding Ticketing and Collections with Supervisor Wahl's responseSweeney, Kathleen
From: Wahl, Larry
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 4:05 PM
To: Grace Wheaton
Cc: Kirk Trostle; RStonebraker@chp.ca.gov; Honea, Kory; scott.gruendl@chicoca.gov;
mark.sorensen@chicoca.gov; mary.goloff@chicoca.gov; sean.morgan@chicoca.gov;
tami.ritter@chicoca.gov; ann.schwab@chicoca.gov; randall.stone@chicoca.gov; Connelly,
Bill; Kirk, Maureen; BOS District 4; Teeter, Doug; Sweeney, Kathleen
Subject: RE: Butte County Ticketing & Collections
Ms. Wheaton,
Could you please tell me where and by whom the ticket was issued so that we can assist you in getting the information
you're requesting?
Larry Wahl
Second District
From: Grace Wheaton [mailto•g_wheaton60)gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 12:30 PM
To: scott.gruendl(a@chicoca.gov; mark Sorensen@chicoca.gov; maU.goloff chicoca.gov; sea n.morgan@chicoca.gov;
tami ritter@chicoca.gov; an n. schwab@chicoca.gov; randall stone@chicoca.gov; Connelly, Bill; Wahl, Larry; Kirk, Maureen;
BOS District 4; Teeter, Doug; Sweeney, Kathleen
Subject: Butte County Ticketing & Collections
Hello City of Chico and Butte County Representatives,
My name is Grace Wheaton and I have been a citizen of this county and town for the past seven years. I am
contacting you in regards to the process in which the county agency goes about collecting past due payments for
minor traffic tickets. Last year I was cited for not having my car smogged but the registration had been paid and
was up to date along with my insurance. Due to financial restraints during that time I was unable to get the car
smogged within the month time allowance I was given and was unable to pay the minor citation as well. During
this time I also moved to a new place of residency due to personal reasons. Due to this move and other issues I
never received any of the notices for the payment. Additionally I was never informed that the amount had not
only been increased but had also been sent to an outside collection agency. Upon being informed of the newly
incurred fees months later I was met with an unwillingness to release any information including how much I
owed, why i owed that much and how or who to contact to get this issue taken care of I contacted the court and
was reference to the count collection agency, who sent me to the state tax board who sent me back to the
collection agency, again and again, over and over I went in circles via phone and email. After trying to track
down information for months I got frustrated and went to the head of the State Tax Franchise board who sent
the entire thing back to the county collection agency where I am currently stuck.
I have been trying to get an itemized statement with no luck, additionally for fees to be removed from my
account, which is now over 800+ dollars for a fix it ticket, I must take my car to the police station to have them
sign off on a piece of paper stating that I have fixed the issue. This is currently impossible since the county has
placed a hold on my license which has made me completely dependent on the help of friends and family and has
almost cost me my job as well, but additionally since my license is suspended I cannot obtain insurance on my
vehicle either. These issues make it impossible to have fees removed, which I am not aware of how they were
incurred to begin with.I have been a law abiding citizen, work full time, pay taxes and support my community
in a myriad of ways including volunteering on a regular basis. This type of treatment forces good people to do
the wrong thing out of necessity. If it were not for the help of the people I have been so blessed to be
surrounded by, I would be jobless, hungry and homeless due to the lack of help and ability to fix a simple
problem th coming another burden on the community instead of being able to continue to spread love and
compassion. I am asking for the help and aid of the people who are supposed to be representing our community.
I not only ask for myself but for others who have been,are currently and will be in the same position I am now.
For our community to improve we must improve upon the conditions of all of the people, that includes the ones
who struggle to live by the rules and do the right thing.
Respectfully,
Grace Wheaton