Florence Municipal Court set to participate in warrant round-up

Do you owe a debt to the Florence Municipal Court? Some time ago, the Florence Municipal Court recalled every warrant that had been issued by the court to ensure the integrity of its warrants.

Now, the court is about to start re-issuing warrants.

Currently, there are 2,100 outstanding charges at the court with a total of $449,131 in outstanding fines as of Dec. 20, 2007.

These amounts reflect the number of charges that are delinquent only.

"This is your opportunity to pay for your outstanding fines at the Florence Municipal Court," said Lanny Booth, municipal court judge. "If you pay your fines now, before the warrants are issued, you will avoid paying the maximum fine on the original charge and the warrant fees."

Booth said those who do not respond to this notice for every citation received in the past and did not appear on it could result in approximately $250 in additional fines and court costs for violating a promise to appear or for failure to appear on a court date.

Those who cannot make a payment in full must appear before the judge to request time payments, said the judge.

"Telephone calls do not constitute as an appearance," he said.

The payment plan requires forms to be filled out and signed, and once persons are on a time-payment plan, they will not go into warrants as long as payments remain current.