Baker City Court is a misdemeanor court and warrants can range from simple offenses such as traffic violations and seat belt violations to marijuana possession, child restraint or domestic abuse battery offenses, Williams and Knaps both said in early February.
"There is a backlog of about 6,000 warrants in our system, and we wish to allow people the opportunity to come in and get their warrants recalled," Knaps said. "Some people may not have the money to pay the recall fee and could use this opportunity to take care of their business and buy themselves more time to pay their fines."
Knaps and Williams said people can only take advantage of the program during the month of February. Anyone with an outstanding bench warrant issued prior to Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, will be allowed to have the bench warrant recalled without first paying the normal bench warrant recall fee of $50. The program does not apply to bench warrants issued during February, only those issued prior to Feb. 1.
Also, the bench warrant recall fee will not be dismissed, but the grace period gives the defendant additional time to pay the recall fee and other outstanding fees/fines owed.
In addition, the defendant will be given a new court date.
The court will hold extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Anyone wishing to confirm if they have an active Baker warrant can call Baker City Court at 225-778-1866 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday.
"Anyone who has a bench warrant issued in the City of Baker is advised to take advantage of this amnesty program throughout the remainder of February," Chief Knaps said. "Beginning the first week of March, there will be several round ups in which Baker PD and assisting law enforcement agencies will be going to offenders' homes and places of employment making arrests for outstanding warrants."
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