Kentwood 62 B District Court

The Kentwood Justice Center which houses 62-B District Court and the Kentwood Police Department. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

The City of Kentwood’s 62-B District Court announced this week that it has launched On the Road, a new program that encourages individuals with certain license-related charges to obtain a valid license, potentially avoid a criminal conviction, and helping the community have safer roads.

Launched in late 2021, On the Road eliminates hurdles for individuals who have been charged by the city with driving unlicensed or with a suspended, revoked or denied license. The program aims to help community members avoid the repeated suspensions that can result from license-related convictions and keep them from appearing on their permanent criminal record.

This helps drivers avoid Secretary of State penalties as well as the “barriers that criminal convictions can lead to in terms of employment eligibility, housing and education,” according to the announcement.

62-B District Court Judge Amanda Sterkenburg. (Supplied)

“Our goal is to create incentives for people in these situations to become licensed drivers, which will ultimately result in safer roads for our community,” 62-B District Court Judge Amanda Sterkenburg said in supplied material. “Often, we see defendants who are close to getting their license for the first time but are unable to overcome certain licensure hurdles or who are unaware their license is suspended because of an unpaid ticket. The additional charges put more distance between them and valid-license privileges.

“This program gives individuals the opportunity to conform their conduct to the law without a criminal conviction and streamline the process for them to become a licensed driver.”

State law was amended last year to create a presumption that these offenses should not be punished with jail time. Individuals are now frequently required to pay fines and complete community service, which can be difficult for individuals who do not have a driver’s license and another form of transportation.

Failing to complete the requirements can result in additional penalties including up to 93 days in jail, probation, fines of up to $500 plus court costs, and a misdemeanor conviction on their permanent criminal record.

With On the Road, eligible individuals can avoid this difficult situation and sanctions if they successfully complete the program.

The court’s judge will determine if a person is eligible for the program during arraignment. However, individuals whose driver’s license has been revoked due to drug or alcohol convictions, Friend of the Court, or immigration status may be ineligible.

If an individual does qualify, they must agree to accept responsibility for a civil infraction and pay a fine during a review hearing scheduled up to four months later. Leading up to the review hearing, a person must fulfill obligations to become a licensed driver. This may include paying all tickets, removing all suspensions from their Secretary of State record, paying all fees, completing a defensive driving course and passing their road or written driving test.

For more information about On the Road, visit kentwood.us/OTR or contact Court Administrator Michele White at 616-554-0715 or whitem@kentwood.us.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

City of Kentwood voters supported local private attorney Amanda Sterkenburg’s bid to replace Judge William G. Kelly and hold the non-partisan 62 B District Court Judge position, defeating Kent County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joe Jackson in the non-partisan election, 11,206 to 8,433, in unofficial (uncertified) results from Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The results represent 100 percent of the Kentwood precincts reporting with 27,281 total votes cast representing 68 percent of the registered voters.

Judge Kelly, after more than 40 years on the bench of Kentwood’s district court ,will be giving up his seat this year due to state law mandated age restrictions.

Sterkenburg is currently an attorney representing civil litigants and providing criminal defense. She is a Kentwood resident, a requirement for the position.

“As a long-time resident of Kentwood, I would like to thank the voters for their faith in my ability to preside over a court where fairness and equity are cornerstones,” Sterkenburg said to WKTV. “Our diverse community deserves a court free of bias, where the rights of all are protected. I am honored to serve as your next district court judge.”

Jackson, in an email responding to the results, said to WKTV: “Congratulations to Ms. Sterkenburg, and thank you to my family and all of my supporters. I look forward to continuing to serve our community in my current rolls.”

In pre-election information provided to WKTV, Sterkenburg said “From landlord tenant disputes to criminal misdemeanors, the matters that come before this Court effect the everyday lives of the people who live in Kentwood. The way these cases are handled will shape our community for years to come and I believe I’m uniquely positioned to create positive outcomes through fair and well-reasoned judgments.”

She also specified issues such as an eviction crisis looming due to the COVID-19 pandemic — and the need find a “fair line between landlords who rely on rental income and tenants who have fallen behind,” as well as being committed to “meaningful probation sentences.”

“When the circumstances of a criminal case show a link between substance abuse, lack of education, or mental illness and the conviction offense, we should explore programs that motivate behavioral change and address those factors. This front-end approach strengthens our community and should be made a focus in cases where increasing punitive consequences doesn’t necessarily serve the ends of justice.”