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Longview municipal court announces warrant amnesty, new evening docket and QR codes on citations
Summary
Director of Administration Bonnie Hubbard briefed the council on municipal-court practices, including a judge-authorized warrant amnesty typically offered Jan. 1–Apr. 30 (but available year-round at judicial discretion), launch of a recurring evening docket beginning Nov. 3, QR codes on citations, and a "Coffee with Court" event on Nov. 7.
Bonnie Hubbard, director of administration, told the Longview City Council on Oct. 23 that municipal court handles class C violations for the City of Longview and that the city judge offers a warrant-amnesty program that is typically run Jan. 1 through April 30.
"This does allow a citizen to say, hey, I need to get this resolved. We immediately drop all warrant fees and the warrant process," Hubbard said, explaining that when a citizen comes to court during amnesty, the warrant is removed so that, for example, a traffic stop will not result in arrest for that warrant. She added the amnesty program is discretionary: "Texas does not have a required program. It is at the judge's discretion, and our judge does offer this program." Hubbard also said citizens may resolve warrants year-round by contacting the court and that the court provides a "safe harbor" so callers will not be arrested while seeking resolution.
Hubbard said the city will add QR codes to citations so recipients have quick access to online options for resolving cases. She also announced an evening docket beginning Nov. 3: check-in will be from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the first Monday of every month thereafter until all citizens are resolved that evening. In addition, the court will hold a "Coffee with Court" event on Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Councilmembers asked whether residents must wait for the amnesty period to resolve warrants (Hubbard: no) and what happens when people fail to keep appointments. Hubbard described a communications process that includes reminders and a roughly 45-day no-contact threshold after which warrant procedures may resume. She said evening dockets aim to make court more accessible for residents who cannot attend daytime dockets because of childcare or work.
Hubbard directed residents to a page on the city website where cases can be searched and dockets viewed; she said further details will be posted at "our website backslash amnesty docket."
