SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Have unresolved warrants?
Now is the time to pay up to avoid arrest.
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 23, the South Padre Island Police Department will join more than 300 law enforcement agencies across Texas for a Statewide Warrant Roundup to collect debt owed on outstanding warrants.
According to a press release from the city, anyone voluntarily appearing in the Municipal Court to take care of tickets will not be arrested.
Applicable warrants include Class C misdemeanors, such as traffic, penal code offenses and ordinance violations.
Public Information Officer Angelique Soto said letters have been mailed to people with outstanding warrants instructing them to contact the Island municipal court to determine how to pay off outstanding fines before the roundup.
“During the roundup, you can be arrested at any time or any place, which will result in additional fees,” said Interim Police Chief Claudine O’Carroll. “We encourage citizens with outstanding citations to take this opportunity to pay their
fines now without incurring further penalties.”
People experiencing hardship and are unable to pay their fines are encouraged to call the court at (956) 761-3225 to discuss payment options that may be available.
San Benito roundup
The San Benito Municipal Court will also begin a warrant roundup starting Saturday, Feb. 23.
Municipal court administrator Christina Sanchez said anyone voluntarily appearing in the municipal court will not be arrested and advises anyone with outstanding citations to take care of their citations to avoid being arrested.
To find out how much you owe or for more information, call the municipal court at (956) 361-3819.
What other cities are doing
Officials in Harlingen and Laguna Vista are doing similar roundups but with a different method.
The Harlingen Municipal Court kicked off its amnesty period for failure to appear charges Monday.
According to a press release, people who pay all of their fines and fees in full immediately will qualify for the forgiveness program.
After payment, the court will waive the amount due for failure to appear charges associated with the warrant.
The amnesty period will run through Thursday Feb. 28 and will be followed by a warrant roundup for all outstanding warrants.
The court will waive the amount due for the failure to appear charge associated with the warrant.
Those who are currently on a payment plan and pay the original violations and fees during the amnesty period may qualify for the amnesty.
The court will schedule time to see the judge at a later date after the amnesty period ends for people who cannot pay their original violations and need a payment plan.
Failure to appear charges will be cleared on the following day if payments to the original violations are made online.
To contact the warrant office, call (956) 216-5121 or (956) 216-5123.
Laguna Vista sweep
The Town of Laguna Vista, in conjunction with its delinquent tax attorneys, is conducting a “Sweep” Warrant Roundup.
People with unpaid Class C warrants for traffic, zoning, animal, noise issues or a code violation ticket may receive a notice from Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP and/or Laguna Vista officers may conduct a personal visit.
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP will mail more than 535 notices this month.
According to City Manager Rolando Vela, the cost of unpaid tickets owed to the Town of Laguna Vista is $481,889.
Those who disregard their notices or fail to follow up on their warrants may be arrested.
“To avoid embarrassment of being arrested at your home, place of employment or elsewhere,” city officials urge people with outstanding arrests to take care of their warrant immediately.
To contact the Laguna Vista municipal court, call (956) 943-1793.
