Baker City Court Judge Kirk A. Williams and Baker City Court Marshall, Mike "Snapper" Knaps, held a press conference Wednesday to announce a warrant amnesty period for the month of February.

The warrant amnesty program is for anyone who has an outstanding warrant in Baker.

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 said.

"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."

However, Knaps and Williams said people can only take advantage of the program throughout 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 in February, only those issued previously.

The bench warrant recall fee will not be dismissed, but will give the defendant additional time to pay it and other outstanding fees they may owe. The defendant will also be given a new court date.

The court will hold extended hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, and 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 thru Friday.

"Citizens or anyone who has a bench warrant issued in the City of Baker is advised to take advantage of the amnesty during 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."