Fort Worth this Spring will begin closing out 670,000 old cases that have clogged the Municipal Court’s system for years, allowing it to focus on newer cases with higher likelihood of collection.
Offenders in the old cases – traffic and ordinance violations and the like, the most recent of which were filed in 2005 - will still be subject to one last warrant roundup by law enforcement agencies statewide going on through mid-March, said Diedra Emerson, municipal court services director.
Then the city will begin closing the cases, Emerson said. Once the cases are closed, offenders will no longer be subject to being arrested on any old warrants connected to them. But they can still pay their fines.
“The conviction has been reported to the DPS; they have the ability to come in and take care of that case,” Emerson said.
Figures weren't immediately available for what percentage of the cases have warrants. Ones without warrants are considered deliquent.
More coming up tonight on this at www.star-telegram.com and in tomorrow's paper.
- Scott Nishimura, Star-Telegram Fort Worth City Hall reporter
Twitter: @JScottNishimura
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