Paying tickets online is generating big income for Cleveland

CLEVELAND - More and more people are paying their traffic or parking tickets online through the Cleveland Municipal Clerk's office, and that's generating some big money for Cleveland.

For the first eight months of 2012, $2.8 million has been collected online. That's more than double the amount collected online in all of 2011.

The money collected from traffic tickets is sent to Cleveland's general fund.

"Paying online is the most convenient method yet of settling a ticket. Not only is it more convenient for the person who uses it, but it also helps shorten wait times for those who call our office, or choose to pay in person on our third floor," said Cleveland Clerk of Courts Earle Turner in a news release. "We don't write tickets, but we want to make it as convenient as possible to pay them."

The online option was first offered in November of 2010. The service applies to tickets that are waiverable, meaning where a court appearance is not required. It allows people to pay the ticket fee with a VISA, Mastercard, or Discover card. It usually takes five days from the time a ticket is issued to be processed and ready for payment online.

There is a $2 service charge added to each payment online. Right now, online payments can only be done through a computer but Turner's team is researching the option of payment with smart phones.

Computer kiosks have also been placed near the 3rd floor payment windows of the Justice Center at 1200 Ontario Street so that customers have the option of by-passing any lines and paying online.