By Sarah Schulz
sarah.schulz@theindependent.com

Citations for waiverable offenses such as speeding, failure to yield, running a stop sign or having too heavy of a load can now be paid online through the Hall County Sheriff's Department's Web site.

The pilot program came to Hall County in mid-March. It is also available in 46 other Nebraska counties, including Merrick, Hamilton, Adams, Boone, Lancaster and Douglas. The Nebraska Judicial Branch launched the system in December 2007.

According to the Web site for the Nebraska Judicial Branch Waiverable Citation Payment System, the project will soon be open to all Nebraska counties.

Transactions made through the Web site can be processed using a Visa, Mastercard or debit card. The payee needs the card and their ticket to complete the payment process, according to the Web site.

Hall County Chief Deputy Sheriff Chris Rea said the new option is an added convenience. Before the online system became available, people could waive their right to appear in court and contest the ticket, plead guilty and pay the fine either at the Hall County Court office or through the mail.

When paying in person at the Hall County Court clerk's office, fines must be paid in cash or by check.

Rea said the program may increase the number of people from other counties or states who pay their tickets and helps eliminate the possibility of losing a citation before it gets paid.

The system can be used to pay tickets issued by the Nebraska State Patrol, sheriff's departments and police departments. It is not for paying city parking citations, he said.

Court costs are still assessed and there is a $2.25 processing fee per ticket for paying online. Tickets must be paid in full prior to the court date listed on the citation. Time payment agreements require a signature between the ticketed person and the court.

Late payment could result in additional fees, a suspended driver's license and/or an arrest warrant could be issued, according to the Web site.

It can take 24 or more hours before the transaction is posted with the court. Any questions about refunds or returns after the transaction has been posted must be addressed to the court in the county where the ticket was issued, according to the Web site.

The citation can't be paid online if the person named has already appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.

The person paying the fine electronically must be the person whose name appears on the ticket, according to the Web site.

The site has step-by-step instructions for filing out the necessary forms and identifying the type of ticket issued. There is also information on how to contact the county where the citations was issued.

In addition, there is information about filing fees and court costs for county and district courts, the state court of appeals and state Supreme Court on the site.