DALTON, Ga. – The Whitfield County Probate Court’s budget is hurting because sheriff’s deputies aren’t writing as many tickets as in years past.
Probate Court Judge Sheri Blevins disclosed the 13 percent drop in revenue during budget hearings Monday night before the Whitfield County Commission.
She said proceeds from fines and court costs generated by tickets written by Georgia State Troopers have remained constant in recent years while this year sheriff’s tickets inexplicably have dropped off.
She said the decline amounts to about $33,000 less than in 2008, and indicated when pressed by Commissioner Harold Brooker that she had not discussed the matter with Sheriff Scott Chitwood.
“Whether or not the sheriff’s department writes the ticket is up to them,” Blevins said. “Maybe the board of commissioners needs to ask them about that. … They may be catching murderers instead of writing tickets.”