(4/04/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Usually, computers make things easier. But at the municipal courthouse downtown, Houstonians and court employees are dealing with a few growing pains.
People are waiting hour after hour to pay speeding, parking and other municipal tickets. The only reason the city gives for what some are calling a fiasco is that the real-world learning curve is great.
Every day at Houston's municipal court, 8,000 people come to pay their tickets. But on Tuesday, people were waiting hours to do so. When we caught up with resident Tamara Boudreaux, she had already been waiting four and a half hours.
"I mean, how long do you want people to wait?" she asked.
Municipal court officials said the delay is due to a new computer system which went online Saturday. The system cost $13 million to purchase and implement.
Judges and staff received more than 9,000 hours of training on the new computers, but officials say training is far different from reality.
Richard Lewis, the acting chief clerk of the municipal court, explained, "Until you actually start using a tool for your work, you don't get proficient at it."
Lewis says except for a few minor glitches, the computer system is functioning properly. He attributes the delays to user inexperience.
Lewis warns those planning to appear for court to expect delays, at least for the next 30 to 90 days, while judges and court staff become accustomed to how things work.
He said, "When you change a system like this, it's not going to be perfect, particularly initially."
So for the time being, expect to wait.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)
Sponsored Content
- Police: Murder victim found dumped in creek 26 min ago
- Rare earthquake rattles northern Illinois 29 min ago
- Woman found dead inside her home
- Bus driver suspended after light rail collision
- HISD could drop higher pay for advanced teachers 12 min ago
- Suspect pulls gun on animal control officer
- Man accused of shooting friend several times
- Honda adds 437,000 cars to global air bag recall
- Being bored could be bad for your health 43 min ago
- Round 2: Blizzards hit Mid-Atlantic to NY 57 min ago
2.

- Your 7am Eyewitness News webcast
1 min ago
-
Most Popular
-
Most Viewed StoriesMost Viewed VideoMost Viewed Photos
ABC13 Everywhere
Wireless
Breaking news as it happens. Sign up now!
Visit our mobile site at abc13now.com.
Get our iPhone application.
Newsletters, Alerts, and RSS
Sign up for our newsletters to get news, weather and other alerts via email.
Get breaking news alerts on your desktop
With our RSS feeds, get real-time updates of abc13.com using your favorite news reader.
Follow us on Twitter!
Contests, Promotions, and Registration
Check out our contests and promotions. There are always great opportunities to win!
Become a member to enter contests, comment on stories, receive newsletters, and more!




