Published: January 02, 2009 08:33 am      

Clerk to no longer process passports

Scott cites increased court docket, new postal center at Park Plaza

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Due to an increasing civil and criminal court docket, the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk’s office will no longer be processing passports for residents.

Circuit Clerk John Scott made the announcement earlier this week, stating in a release, “With the new and modern postal facility at the Park Plaza Shopping Center and their ability to process passports along with photos taken on-site, the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk’s office will no longer process passports. With the ever-growing civil and criminal court docket, the Circuit Clerk’s office must turn its full statutory obligation to the Jefferson County Court system.”

“This has been a courtesy [service] for several years,” Scott said. “But we need to turn our attention to the court system.”

According to Jefferson County Court records, there were 3,968 pending civil cases at the end of December, which is up from 3,695 compared to the previous year. Pending criminal cases were 2,053, up from 1,880 compared to the previous year in December; juvenile cases were 556, compared to 532 cases pending the previous year in December; and traffic cases were 5,981, up from 5,527 pending the previous year in December.

Scott reminds those who need to have passports processed to contact the U.S. Postal Service at the Park Plaza Shopping Center, 726 Park Plaza, Mt. Vernon.

According to the U.S. Postal Service here, passport services include passbooks and cards. Cards are only good for cruises and land travel to and from Mexico and Canada, while passbooks may be used for travel all over the world.

The cost for a card is $45 and $100 for a passbook. There is a discount for children under the age of 15.

In order to process a passport, information states, you must have an original or certified birth certificate, current driver’s license and must have a passport photo, which must be taken at a photo center such as Walgreens or CVS, a spokesperson for the Mt. Vernon USPS said.

Passports are processed from 8:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Appointments may be set up for processing after 3 p.m. by calling 242-0640.