The existing county ordinance calls for forfeitures of $250 to $500 and the county usually levies a $275 penalty, according to the proposal. When additional fees are added in, however, the total jumps to about $484.
A $1 penalty would really cost $142.26 once fees and surcharges are included, according to a court official. The new penalty also would apply to possession of drug paraphernalia ordinance violations.
There were 187 county marijuana tickets issued in 2019, according to the resolution.
Under the existing ordinance, “some individuals may not be able to afford the fine and fees associated with a marijuana possession citation, which may result in their case being sent to collections or an increased charge, which is less likely to be collected by Milwaukee County and can affect an individual’s financial situation, including their credit scores,” the resolution said.
Milwaukee Co. proposal seeks marijuana fine drop: No more than $1
By FOX6 News Digital Team
Published
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE - Eight Milwaukee County supervisors have sponsored a resolution to drop the fine for marijuana possession to no more than $1.
The proposal, filed on Feb. 3, seeks to amend Chapter 24 of the Milwaukee County Code of General Ordinances, specifically reducing the fine for marijuana possession.
That fine, along with the fine for possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia, would be reduced to no more than $1 under the proposed resolution.
Currently, the code Chapter 24.02 sets the fine at not less than $250 and no more than $500. If passed, it calls for the change to take effect on the first day of the month, no less than 21 days after publication.
Tony Evers swears in Assembly Democrats in virtual ceremony
By AP author
Wisconsin Capitol in Madison
MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Tony Evers swore in state Assembly Democrats in a virtual ceremony Monday, Dec. 28.
Evers met with the Democratic caucus through Zoom on Monday afternoon. He swore in new members Deb Andraca, Samba Baldeh, Sue Conley, Dora Drake, Francesca Hong, Supreme Moore Omokunde, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, Sara Rodriguez, Kristina Shelton, and Lee Snodgrass individually. He swore in returning members en masse. Assembly Democrats posted the ceremony on their youtube channel.
Republicans emerged from the November elections with a 61-38 majority in the Assembly. The GOP also maintained its majority in the state Senate, setting up a frustrating session for Democrats.
With lawmakers retiring, resigning or losing reelection, the Wisconsin State Assembly will see 16 new members while eight new members will serve in the state Senate in the coming two-year session that starts in January.
At least 15 of those elected this cycle have already held elected office. And 14 women are among the ranks of those newly elected to the Legislature or moving from the Assembly to the Senate.
Of the 16 new Assembly members, 10 are Democrats, including the two who defeated incumbent Republicans.
In the Senate, three new Democrats join the ranks, all of whom have held elected office before. Republicans will welcome five new senators to the chamber; three of them have previous elected experience, including Rep. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, who defeated Sen. Patty Schachtner, D-Somerset.
Moore Omokunde was elected to Crowley’s former seat as Representative of State Assembly District 17 in November. He resigned his seat on the County Board December 18th.
Moore Omokunde has been on the board since 2015, serving on a handful of committees. In a statement, he said he was “especially proud” of the county’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis and “the numerous resolutions and ordinance changes that have come from that declaration.”
Since 2016, he served as chair of the Health and Human Needs Committee, where he led the board’s effort in providing oversight of and crafting the county’s policy for youth detention. In that role, he was outspoken about the need to reform the way young people and children are cared for by the justice system and was an advocate for keeping kids in Milwaukee, closer to home when they are in the juvenile justice system.