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Texas law enforcement agencies prepare for Great Warrant Roundup
Got traffic tickets, parking violations, court fees or arrest warrants you haven’t paid? Now’s the time to take care of them, because police across the state are preparing to round up violators.
Starting Feb. 25, law enforcement agencies in more than 265 jurisdictions will begin arresting people and collecting payments on outstanding warrants for an initiative they call the Great Warrant Roundup.
Police officials in Central Texas said this morning that they want people to contact the courts where they have warrants and arrange to make payments on their fines before they risk arrest.
“We’d like to see everyone take the opportunity to get in touch with the courts and get these taken care of,” said Austin Assistant Police Chief Sean Mannix.
Travis County Precinct 4 Constable Maria Canchola said people will not face arrest if they make payment arrangements. After Feb. 25, officers may come to people’s homes or offices to collect on the warrants, she said.
“That is what we’re trying to avoid,” Canchola said. “We don’t want to arrest you, but we must execute these warrants.”
Rebecca Stark, the Austin Municipal Court clerk, said that court sent out more than 80,000 notices to people informing them of their outstanding issues. The warrant round-up, now in its sixth year, is set around tax time so people can use their refunds to take care of their court fees, officials said.
