Library Patrons Racking Up Huge Fines In San Jose
SAN JOSE (KCBS) -- Three people have fines of over $10,000 each for overdue books at San Jose's library, but the city may be willing to forgive them, no questions asked.
The amnesty offer is for people who have checked out books, but never returned them
San Jose City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio told KCBS that the reason for patrons racking up such huge fines is the library's policy to allow people to check out too many books.
"The library's policy of allowing 100 items at a time, per person I think adds to the chances you're gonna have things like this," Oliverio said. In Oakland, the limit is 40 books, and in San Francisco it's 50.
Oliverio is suggesting an amnesty program to allow those books to be returned without patrons facing fines.
The city refuses to identify the patrons who have racked up the huge fines.
Seven other patrons have accumulated late fees totaling more than $5,000 each.
