South County : Municipal Court Offers 30-Day Amnesty Deal

An estimated 5,000 motorists who have warrants outstanding against them in South County Municipal Court for misdemeanor traffic violations are going to be offered a break for 30 days, beginning May 19.

Presiding Judge Pamela Lee Iles said that amnesty will be granted from that date to June 19 “for all those drivers wandering around out there waiting to get popped” by police for failure to appear on county and city misdemeanor citations.

“We want them to come in, and the sooner the better, and we’ll dismiss the failure to appear charge, which usually carries a terribly big fine,” she said, adding that the basic charge still will be tried.

Judge Iles said similar amnesty deals have been offered in other court districts with some success, but it is the first time for the south county courts. Granting amnesty, she said, is designed to clear up many cases, save the court the cost of servicing the warrants and bring in considerable fine money.

“There will be no amnesty on such charges as drunk driving and other state offenses,” she pointed out.

She warned, however, that if response is not encouraging in the first few days, the amnesty will be called off.

“We just want everybody to come in and surrender,” she said.