Lewis Webber probably isn’t the most popular guy among his clients.

That’s because being in the business of collecting money from people can be a touchy subject.

But, Webber, 54, who has been squeezing money out of people for misdemeanors and traffic tickets for Mesa County’s 21st Judicial District for more than a decade, doesn’t care whether he’s well-liked.

“My goal is to collect as much as possible for the victims,” he said.

Despite the nation’s economic decline, it doesn’t seem to affect local residents who owe money on tickets. Instead, Webber’s clients still report paying big bucks on their monthly clothing budgets, cell-phone service, cable-TV bills and consumer credit card payments.

Webber, who staffs the collections office with co-worker Deya Scheetz, said he tries to be “firm but fair” in setting up payment plans.

“I tell them, ‘This obligation can put you in jail. Your other obligations will not put you in jail,’ ” he said.

Those who cannot afford to pay tickets or fines at the time of their sentencing hearing come to Webber and are put on payment plans according to their income levels. Clients who fail to make payments and don’t keep in contact with collectors can face arrest or have their wages garnished.

However, someone who reports paying $100 a month for a cable-TV bill may be asked to fork over more than $40 a month to pay court fees, Webber said.

The county court has been pulling in a little more money each year for misdemeanor and traffic fines. In 2006, people were ticketed with a total of about $2.3 million in fines, and the office collected $2.1 million. Last year, tickets totaled $2.8 million, and workers collected $2.3 million.

Webber said he has been threatened and more than a few times has handled livid clients. There are, however, a few people over the years who have written thank-you letters for his calm demeanor in handling their cases.

As far as excuses go, Webber has heard them all.

“I’ve had grandparents who died two or three times,” he said. “I forgot. I lost my paperwork. I moved.”

He added, “I get a little facetious. I say, ‘So, if you buy a Lamborghini and you move, you don’t have to pay for it?’ ”

Webber said he doesn’t take the excuse that people don’t have a job as a reason for not paying fines. The office keeps a list of about 180 local companies that employ convicted felons, and staff members also post job openings.

Webber said he works hardest on collecting restitution payments, such as his largest case of $67,000 for a drunken-driving crash that caused injury to another person.

Email AMY HAMILTON