Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) – Did you receive a speeding ticket last year? If the answer is yes, your lead foot has a silver lining. A portion of the fines paid to the courts from criminal violations and civil infractions, such as traffic tickets, is distributed to local libraries. This year, fines netted Ottawa County’s nine public libraries a total of $682,556.24.
“In recent years, distributions to libraries have ranged from $700,000 to $900,000, depending on the volume of citations,” said Cheryl Clark, Ottawa County Treasurer. “This year’s distribution is consistent with last year’s. Libraries provide essential services to residents of all ages, and these funds play a key role in sustaining their operations.”
| Library | Certified Population | Interest | Principal | Total Distribution |
| Allendale Township | 35,384 | 1,992.81 | 79,545.23 | 81,538.04 |
| Coopersville Area District | 12,679 | 714.08 | 28,503.12 | 29,217.20 |
| Georgetown Township | 54,091 | 3,046.39 | 121,599.63 | 124,646.02 |
| Patmos (Jamestown) | 9,630 | 542.36 | 21,648.78 | 22,191.14 |
| Herrick District | 87,773 | 4,943.34 | 197,318.67 | 202,262.01 |
| Gary Byker Memorial | 11,311 | 637.03 | 25,427.78 | 26,064.81 |
| Loutit District | 39,331 | 2,215.11 | 88,418.31 | 90,633.42 |
| Spring Lake District | 19,868 | 1,118.96 | 44,664.38 | 45,783.34 |
| Howard Miller | 26,133 | 1,471.80 | 58,748.46 | 60,220.26 |
The Michigan State Constitution of 1963 requires that all penalties collected for violations of state penal laws be dived into court costs, statutory fees, and penal fines. The portion designated as penal fines is deposited into a library fund and must be used for the support of public libraries and county law libraries. These funds are considered local revenue, collected within each county, and are distributed to public libraries based on the population each library serves within the jurisdiction. The Library of Michigan certifies the annual distribution.
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