Texans Urged to Pay Up or Face Arrest

The sixth annual Great Texas Warrant Round-Up targets individuals across the state who have outstanding warrants for their arrest based upon the defendants’ failure to pay fines for traffic tickets and other misdemeanor crimes. Municipal and justice court officials have mailed notices to individuals who have outstanding warrants – encouraging them to pay their fines and resolve their cases before they are arrested by state and local authorities. Across Texas, thousands of outstanding warrants have been issued by municipal courts and justices of the peace for failing to pay fines. Under Texas law, fines and fees for misdemeanors and other offenses fund the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, which provides financial assistance to victims and their families who have no other means of financial support.

Over the next two weeks, citizens who have an outstanding arrest warrant – or receive a notice in the mail – should contact the appropriate police or sheriff’s departments for information about how to clear those warrants and avoid arrest.

Beginning on Feb. 25, law enforcement agencies statewide will begin locating and arresting individuals who are on the outstanding warrant list. Subjects who are arrested for outstanding warrants may be apprehended at any location, including the individual’s residence, school or workplace. The Texas Attorney General’s Fugitive Unit officers will work in conjunction with local task forces and law enforcement agencies around the state to assist officials with arrests.