After being closed from Sept. 8 through last Friday, business at the Duval County Clerk of Courts Office at the courthouse Downtown was “understandably a bit higher than usual,” said Brian Corrigan, senior manager of the public records department.
That’s an understatement.
On Monday, the first day the Duval County Courthouse was open after the Hurricane Irma break, 2,100 people visited the clerk’s office, compared to the 1,100 customers served on an average Monday, Corrigan said.
Over the past few years, the clerk has expanded electronic processing and payment options, so even though the courthouse was locked up for six business days, customers were able to do business from their homes or offices.
Corrigan reports that 113 civil traffic court dates were set, 2,700 court dates were rescheduled and 73 percent of the 3,400 Viewable on Request public records inquiries submitted were fulfilled through duvalclerk.com during the period the courthouse was closed.
In addition, 1,022 payments were made while the office was closed through the clerk’s E-pay system for civil citations issued for offenses such as speeding or running a stop sign. The system allows people who have received citations for non-criminal traffic violations pay the fine, court costs, late fees or monthly payment plan installments or elect to attend traffic school.
Corrigan also said that because of the closure, the clerk’s office will not impose late fees for customers who had fines or fees due from Sept. 8 through Sept. 15 as long as the fines or fees are paid by Sept. 29.