Johnson County program allows those owing court debt to keep driver’s license while paying it off

In Iowa, an individual’s driver’s license may be suspended because of unpaid court fines, but the Johnson County Attorney’s Office, along with many others across the state, offers a payment plan that allows the reinstatement of a license while paying off the debt. It also allows individuals to consolidate their court debt and avoid dealing with a collection agency.

Christine Peters, a legal assistant with the county attorney’s Collections Division, talked with The Gazette about the program and how it works.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said the collections staff does “amazing work” with the program and offers more flexibility to the participants by working with them on a payment plan they can afford.

The participants are grateful for the opportunity to get their driver’s license back and some have brought Peters flowers for her help, Zimmermann Smith noted.

Q: A driver’s license can be suspended if court fines aren’t paid, so how does the County Attorney Driver’s License Reinstatement Pay Plan (CAPP) help?

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A: A CAPP plan can help qualified drivers get a valid driver’s license while they work to pay off their court fines over time rather than having to come up with a large payment. This helps them keep their driving privileges, and makes us all safer by ensuring that drivers are licensed and insured. The Driver’s License Reinstatement is filed with the court on any case that causes a suspension on the participant’s driver’s license. This action alerts the Iowa DOT to withdraw the license sanctions. After the DOT is notified, the participant can apply to get a valid driver’s license. The payments on the plan must continue to keep the license valid, but the full benefits of the program begin with the first payment on the plan.

Q: Who is eligible for the plan and how does someone apply for it?

A: Anyone with court debt in Johnson County qualifies for a payment plan. Depending on additional requirements set by the Iowa DOT, the participant may be started on a payment plan without the additional driver’s license agreement filed. The county’s website has the application form to fill out and if an applicant is hesitant about the website, our collections staff will enter the information over the phone. We are here to help!

Q: Are individuals with pending misdemeanors and felonies eligible?

A: Yes, if the applicant is participating in all court dates and expectations for the case.

Q: If someone is barred from driving or has been revoked, can this plan still help?

A: It may in some cases. Additional research and status checks are required with the DOT, but in certain cases the driver’s license agreement can help maintain a restricted license status. Additionally, the payment plan may allow the participant to receive an annual release for the hold on a vehicle registration renewal.

Q: Can a civil penalty assessed by the DOT and other fines be included in this plan?

A: Yes, if the DOT civil penalty is included, those fees are paid first.

Q: Does this plan replace any court ordered pay plan in a criminal case or new driving related case?

A: If the participant is currently on a court ordered payment plan, those payments must continue.

Q: What happens if payments are missed?

A: We want people to be successful in this program. We work with people to make sure they are agreeing to a payment they can afford. All participants in the Johnson County Attorney’s Office Payment Plan Program are sent monthly payment reminders to help avoid missed payments. We encourage participants to communicate with us if their situation changes and they are unable to make payments, so that we can work with them to keep them on track. If payments are missed, the reminders escalate to default warnings. If defaulted, the participant is encouraged to reapply when monthly payments are more realistic within their budget or personal finances.

Q: How can payments be made?

A: Participants may choose the option that best suits them — the Iowa Courts website, the Iowa Judicial Branch payment phone line, through a wage assignment — taken from an employee’s paycheck — or a check/money order.

Q: Not all Iowa county attorney offices offer this program. Are there others in the 6th Judicial District that offer this program?

A: Iowa County is the only county in this district that does not offer the CAPP program. Iowa County does allow driving tickets to be added to CAPP agreements in other counties for the purposes of driver’s license reinstatement. Non-driving related fines must be paid to the county where the fine is issued.

Q: What are collections for this program? Can you give examples from 2024 and 2025?

A: FY 2025 was $1,128,181, and FY 2024 was $1,010,630

Q: Do the county attorney’s offices get a percentage of the collections? How is that money allocated?

A: 72 percent of the collections go to the state and 28 percent of the collections go to the County General Fund.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com