LEONIA, N.J. - The ultimate solution to making bail, the police station ATM, is slowly becoming a reality in New Jersey. Fair Lawn city officials installed an ATM in its municipal building last year, and now the Leonia police department is considering placing a cash machine in its lobby.
Another New Jersey city, Clifton, plans to install a Valley National Bank ATM at city hall in late February.
Leonia police chief August "Chip" Greiner told the Bergen Record he expects the ATM to be used for posting bail, paying parking tickets, and buying parking stickers. Currently, the department advises people to use an ATM machine just outside the building.
Fair Lawn officials said the city's machine, located in front of the police desk and across from the tax office, attracts about 60 transactions per month. The city had to purchase the machine, which cost $6,500, after banks balked, saying the machine would not generate enough transaction fees. The city expects the machine to pay for itself within about seven years. Despite Fair Lawn's experience, Leonia officials also plan to solicit bids from local banks.
Leonia has a population of about 8,900, according to the Bergen Record. Fair Lawn has about 32,000 residents and Clifton nearly 80,000.
