People with outstanding traffic warrants or unpaid fines at Brookhaven Municipal Court can resolve their cases without risk of arrest through a limited amnesty program running through Friday, Oct. 30.
The city announced Oct. 8 that the program began Oct. 1. Those who qualify can pay a reduced appearance bond to have a bench warrant withdrawn and receive a new court date. Individuals whose unpaid traffic violations led to a suspended license can pay the outstanding fine or request a new court date, and the court will submit a withdrawal of the suspension to the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
"This amnesty program is an invitation to rejoin the judicial process, address outstanding court matters, and bring unresolved cases back into good standing," Dominiqui Southall, chief clerk of Brookhaven Municipal Court, said in the city's Oct. 8 announcement.
The program does not cover violation-of-probation warrants.
Who qualifies
Both the case and the individual must meet several conditions. The violation must be filed with Brookhaven Municipal Court and be in failure-to-appear or bench-warrant status with an appearance date on or before Sept. 30. The individual must contact the court to request amnesty, must have no other outstanding misdemeanor or felony warrants in Georgia, and cannot have been apprehended using police department resources.
How to participate
Participants can submit a Limited Amnesty Participation Request Form in person at the court, by mail, or online through the city's amnesty program page.
Walk-in arraignments are available at 3:30 p.m. on four remaining dates: Tuesday, Oct. 13; Wednesday, Oct. 21; Tuesday, Oct. 27; and Thursday, Oct. 29. Walk-ins must check in at the Court Services window by 3:15 p.m.
The court at 1793 Briarwood Road is open for the program from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout October. Accepted payment methods include cash, money order, cashier's check and credit or debit card. Personal checks are not accepted.
Residents can call the court at (404) 637-0660 for more information.
