Bad check round-up set to begin

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
North Alabama bad check writers beware - District Attorneys across the region are united and ready for a massive campaign to roundup and arrest you.
Last week, investigators and staff members from Worthless Check Units across north Alabama met at the Morgan County District Attorney's office to begin planning the roundup.
Ten District Attorneys are cooperating in the effort, said to be one of the most extensive operations of its kind in state history.
While meeting together, the check units began exchanging information on individuals wanted in multiple jurisdictions and began coordinating arrests that will begin in early March.
The roundup will be conducted in Franklin, Colbert, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, Lauderdale, Cullman, DeKalb, Cherokee and Lawrence counties.
The roundup in Colbert and Franklin counties will be held on March 24.
Rushing said bad check writers will be given notice by certified mail and given a chance to work out a payment arrangement before any arrest.
Rushing said his office handles 115-120 bad checks in a given month.
The Worthless Check Unit does not charge merchants a fee for collecting their check. Merchants are entitled by law to recover restitution and a service charge for each worthless check they receive, the amount that is written plus $30 per check.