Bill Laitner

Detroit Free Press

To ease tight holiday budgets in metro Detroit, here comes a new kind of layaway plan -- from a Santa in judge's robes.

The 36th District Court in Detroit has proclaimed an "exclusive holiday promotion being offered for the entire month of December."

For those with outstanding traffic tickets or other minor violations, the court suggests this festive option: "Individuals who have outstanding debt owed to the court will have the opportunity to 'lay it away' and enter into a payment plan with only 10% down of their balance due."

Wait, it gets better: "All adjudicated cases in which fines and costs were assessed are eligible. As an added bonus, upon making the final payment, all late fees and penalties will be waived," the court said in a news release Wednesday.

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Get out the mistletoe! In the release, Chief Judge Nancy Blount stated: “We are excited to offer this chance for individuals to get back on track and eventually restore their driving privileges, whether they have defaulted on a previous payment plan or want to start a new plan. Plus, the waiver of all penalties and late fees upon final payment should be a big incentive to comply with their new or reinstated agreement.”

Amen to that. Court Administrator, Kelli Moore Owen added, “We wanted to do something unique this holiday season and this is a way for people to start fresh with payments that fit their budget before additional collection enforcement actions, slated for January 2017, are initiated.” But sorry, if you're already enrolled in a payment plan -- no layaways. You're not eligible.

The new layaway plan could mean that a lot of drivers get discounts on a nice holiday gift --their licenses reinstated. But this courthouse Santa has limits. Those with suspended licenses still must pay the license "clearance fee," a requirement of a certain grinch in Lansing -- the Michigan Secretary of State.

For details on the plan, see the court's website. No kidding -- the website details are displayed under a bright-red package that's tied in ribbon and has a layaway tag.

Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com