Judge’s fine-collection idea called bounty hunting

Mathis Winkler

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Warren VanLandschoot wants to collect almost $7.8 million in fines and penalties owed to the city and says hiring retired police officers to act as "ambassadors" for the court is the way to go.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, however, although she agrees the idea has merit, sees the ambassadors more as bounty hunters.

Generally, VanLandschoot's suggestion was greeted warmly by city officials when presented Wednesday during a City Council meeting. The council is holding off on any decision until questions regarding liability, the officers' exact role and the city's image are answered.

VanLandschoot said the court's eight warrant division officers, who handle the collection of fines, don't have enough time to chase down thousands of people who fail to pay.

"This is a major issue," VanLandschoot said, pointing to a wall of shelves filled with warrant files in the courthouse. "Why do we have over $7 million owed to the city when most people take care of legal matters?"

The retired officers would get paid only if they're successful in collecting money for the city.

Specifics about how the collectors would get paid have not yet been worked out.

"It's a good supplement to what we're doing," VanLandschoot said, adding that the program would be the only one in Clark County.

Officials at Las Vegas Municipal Court, however, said they have used a private collection agency in addition to their full-time warrant officers for three years.

"It's been very good for the court," said acting Court Administrator Keith Gronquist. He added that the agency, which charges a fee of about 25 percent, collected about $1 million in court fines last year.

But unlike the arrangement in Las Vegas, where court officials pass on cases to the collection agency, VanLandschoot plans to work with sworn peace officers who can serve criminal warrants.

He added that members of the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association "seem to be pretty good with" the idea.

Union officials, who also represent the court's warrant officers, could not be reached for comment Thursday. They will have to comment on the idea before the city takes any further steps, said City Attorney Sean McGowan.

"You got that part," Mayor Michael Montandon said.

Councilwoman Stephanie Smith agreed and said city officials should also look into the cost of hiring more full-time warrant officers to do the job.

Working with contractors would be "a slap in the face of the union," she said.

"Ultimately, this becomes bounty hunters, and bounty hunters for misdemeanors," she said.

While she liked the idea of bringing money into city coffers, Smith added that the program might send the wrong message to residents.