INDIANAPOLIS -- The Marion Superior Court has collected $1 million in unpaid traffic fines thanks to the help of five private debt collection companies, court officials said.

Letters were sent out in November warning people that the county would go after unpaid tickets going back to 1999.

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Unpaid Parking Tickets?

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"Our message is simple: 'If you've forgotten to pay a ticket, we have not. Expect to hear from us soon,'" said Judge Cale Bradford in a Friday news release.

Collection efforts continue, with the court now focusing on tickets dating back to 1988.

As of August, traffic tickets not paid within the required 120-day period are automatically forwarded to collection agencies. Fines are also increased 25 percent to cover fees from the collection agencies.