Missouri City cleared 281 warrants and netted $63,000 during a Statewide Warrant Roundup from Feb. 19 through March 16. At one point during the roundup, 10 city jail cells were filled with individuals picked up at their homes or workplaces for outstanding warrants. With the amount of jail time served, known as face value, the city’s roundup effort totaled more than $100,000.
“The successful Warrant Roundup program was a team effort,” said Municipal Court Administrator Cathy Haney. “It showed us what can be done with a collective effort on the part of the Police Department, Court staff, 911 Dispatch, Communications and Public Works Departments working together to make the effort a success. In addition, the fact that the Roundup was statewide also helped in locating people who now live in other parts of Texas, but who still have outstanding warrants in our City.”
Most of the 281 warrants that were resolved involved traffic offenses, city code violations and school truancies.
One offender had unpaid fines of $339 for five violations of failure to attend school. After fees and failure to pay and entering a plea in court, the defendant owed a total of $1,712.
Haney said examples like this are the reason the city urges people who have outstanding warrants to take care of them as soon as possible.
“The sad part is if they had just taken care of the fines when we first sent out letters before they were in warrant, the cost would have been much less. They decided not to act on letters from the city or the collection agency; and some also received letters from the Texas Department of Public Safety,” Haney said. “Sooner or later, the fine will have to be paid, because the Department of Public Safety will not renew a driver’s license for those who have outstanding warrants.”
In addition, several older cases were cleared off the books, allowing the Municipal Court staff to concentrate on the newer warrants in the future.
