Like a Steelers blitz, people rushed yesterday to the Pittsburgh Municipal Courts Internet site looking for names, including their own.

Many likely found themselves among the 37,000 scofflaws who owe an estimated $2.5 million in overdue fines for traffic tickets and other minor offenses.

The only problem was, the onslaught sacked the system. Those seeking to log onto the site -- www.alleghenycourts.us -- were either denied access or told it didn't exist.

The only thing more impenetrable was the telephone number; lines were so busy almost no one could get through.

The hubbub was caused when the municipal courts, along with the Allegheny County sheriff's office and Pittsburgh police announced a campaign to collect overdue fines from people guilty of summary violations between Jan. 1, 2003, and Sept. 1, 2007.

Raymond L. Billotte, the district court administrator, said at a news conference yesterday that the more than 37,000 people are responsible for more than 50,000 unpaid tickets dating to 2004.

The fines associated with the violations range from $25 to $5,000, Mr. Billotte said.

Now that the list of violators has been posted on the court Web site, officials have set a Nov. 20 deadline for responses. By that date, those with outstanding citations can request a hearing, pay the fines or expect to get arrested, Mr. Billotte said.

"These are all relatively minor offenses, but they must be enforceable," Pittsburgh Assistant Police Chief Paul Donaldson said. "We encourage all law abiding people to pay the fines. Otherwise, we'll go after them. We'll go after the major offenders first."

A few interesting names popped on the list when it was posted yesterday on the Internet.

One of the more recognizable names is that of Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Max W. Starks.

Mr. Starks was cited once in 2005, four times in 2006 and again this year for some of those "relative minor" violations, according to the list.

Mr. Billotte cautioned yesterday that some whose names appear on the list may have paid their fines in the past day or so. It takes about three days before the payment is confirmed and a name purged.

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said he expected Mr. Starks, who could not be reached for comment, to pay his fines by yesterday afternoon.

Also on the list are former Steelers Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El, who now play for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, respectively.

Spokesmen for those two teams said they were unable to reach the players for comment.

Mr. Burress, according to posted citations, ran a red light in 2004, illegally parked on a sidewalk in 2005 and this year was caught driving without a license.

Mr. Randle El has one citation from 2005 for parking at a taxi stand.

The Pittsburgh school board also was not exempt as name of school Director Mark Brentley Sr. appears once, and that of his wife, Sharon, at least twice.

"It's no secret that I was unemployed in 2005," because of disputes over his right to work for the city and serve on the school board, he said.

"It was my second termination. Unfortunately, there were a lot of things that went unattended to at that time," Mr. Brentley said.

"I know nothing about it, but I will look into it and take care of it."

The "vast majority" of the violators have Pittsburgh addresses, Mr. Billotte said. The two former Steelers are among the exceptions.

More than 48,000 of the citations are for traffic violations. About 4,400 are for nontraffic incidents, such as disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Mr. Billotte said the campaign has an ambitious goal.

"I want all of [the money back], quite honestly," he said.

The scofflaws cause a backlog in the court system and leave the coffers short of millions of dollars, he said.

City police and sheriff's department personnel will carry out the enforcement along with their regular duties, Sheriff William Mullen said.

District judges and Municipal Court staff will set special sessions on weekends and during the evenings to accommodate what they expect to be busy court dates.

Mr. Billotte said his staff already was working last night to correct the Web site's inability yesterday to handle the heavy demand.

"We may have a solution as soon as [this] morning," he said yesterday.

Violators with no access to the Internet can call for information at 412-350-6748. Operators will give callers directions on how to pay.