No Tricks, Just Treats: Waco’s Halloween Amnesty Event Clears 41,000 Warrants 🎃

A Waco judge says its no trick...just a treat!

Halloween Spooktacular Amnesty Event

According to KWTX, The City of Waco and Municipal Judge Bobby Garcia have worked out a deal for the 13,411 people with outstanding Class C misdemeanor warrants. Waco’s second annual Halloween Spooktacular Amnesty Event is an effort to clear over 41,000 outstanding warrants from the books.

What Falls Under Class C Offenses?

Judge Garcia told KWTX that Class C offenses include city code enforcement violations, disorderly conduct, assault, animal violations, public intoxication, speeding and other traffic citations. The amnesty event last year cleared 3,100 warrants.

Some Offenses Are More Common Than Others

According to the judge, the majority of warrants are code enforcement and animal violations. According to KWTX, code enforcement violations are often as simple as an elderly person not being able to mow their yard.

The Spooktacular Event Can Reduce the Amount Owed in Fines

The longer it takes for someone to pay a citation fine, the more the cost of the fine. When a citation is unpaid, it becomes a warrant. The warrant cost includes a 30-percent collection agency fee, late fees and warrant fees. Judge Garcia told KWTX that the most expensive uncollected warrant on the books increased to almost $25,000.
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The Consequences of Not Paying a Warrant Fine

If you have an outstanding warrant, your driving privileges are in jeopardy. According to the Judge, outstanding warrants prevent the renewal of drivers’ licenses.

How the Amnesty Plan Works

To work towards paying off the warrant fine, participants will pay fifty dollars during the Oct. 20 through Oct. 31 amnesty period. This fee will clear the warrant. Next comes an amnesty payment plan with a much lower fine that must be paid off within 120 days. Judge Garcia told KWTX that the amnesty period creates a “safe zone,” for those in the payment plan, removing the threat of arrest for an outstanding warrant.