The Southern Poverty Law Center, SPLC, issued a letter to Winston County Attorney Jeff Mobley on Friday demanding the county drop all criminal cases against residents for falling behind on their garbage collection bills. The letter argues that the county’s debt collection practices violate state and federal laws while also infringing on the protected rights of county residents.
According to SPLC, Winston County residents who are unable to pay their garbage bills are sent a collection letter demanding full payment be made within 10 days. Failure to pay after 10 days then results in an arrest warrant, possible incarceration, and a $300 bond in addition to the unpaid bill. Over 60 residents have been arrested and prosecuted in such cases over the last four years alone.
The center is currently representing five Winston County residents who have been threatened with arrest and prosecution for failing to pay their garbage bills on time…