Opelousas City Court offers amnesty
Oct 31, 2010
Source: Daily World
Author: William Johnson
Opelousas City Court will hold a one-month amnesty program in an effort to help clear out a backlog of more than 1,200 traffic cases.
“We are just trying to give people a break,” said LaVonya Malveaux, the court’s judicial administrator. “We understand that people may have problems in these difficult economic times, but at the same time we expect them to meet their legal obligations.”
Beginning Feb. 15, and continuing through March 15, the court will host a forgiveness program for individuals with outstanding bench warrants in the city court’s traffic section.
During this period, the court will allow individuals with outstanding warrants to pay their fees without fear of arrest. The court has also agreed to cancel the bench warrant fee assessed for failure to appear in court during the amnesty period.
“However, the fines and costs related to the traffic charges will not be waived and must be paid in full. No pay plans will be accepted,” Malveaux said.
She said only individuals with traffic citation-related warrants are eligible for the amnesty program.
Those with non-traffic misdemeanors such as disturbing the peace, minor drug possession, simple battery, theft, and other such charges are not eligible.
Judge Vanessa Harris urged anyone with a traffic-related bench warrant to take advantage of the amnesty offer.
“Some people have outstanding warrants for their arrest because they have overlooked a court date. We are offing a limited opportunity for them to clean their record,” Harris said.
Malveaux said failure to clear your record creates the constant threat of imprisonment.
In most cases, “a person who is stopped for a minor traffic violation is usually just given a ticket. But if that person has an outstanding warrant, they are instead arrested.
The city marshal’s office, the enforcement arm of the court, also regularly conducts roundups of people wanted on outstanding warrants. that means people with outstanding warrants are also subject to having themselves publicly arrested at their home or office at any time.
During the amnesty period, defendants must appear in person at the city court, located at 127 E. Grolee St. in Opelousas, and pay any outstanding fines and court costs between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Payments can be made by either cash, money order or cashier’s check. No personal checks will be accepted.
Malveaux said, once the amnesty period has passed, the marshal’s office will actively seek the arrest of anyone who still has an outstanding warrant.
Anyone who believes they may have an outstanding bench warrant should call the court at 948-2570 for more information.