Warrant respite planned

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

For a third straight year, Christmas is coming early for those with traffic or other misdemeanor warrants in North Las Vegas.

This week, Municipal Judge Warren Van Landschoot issued a warrant moratorium for the upcoming holiday season. The moratorium gives people with outstanding warrants on charges such as petty larceny, domestic battery and traffic offenses a chance to avoid arrest and either pay their fines or get a new court date.

The cases affected by this moratorium are all misdemeanor bench warrants and failure-to-appear warrants, according to a city statement.

Van Landschoot said most of the warrants come from traffic violations.

"A lot of people that get caught up in a traffic situation and end up with a warrant are good people," he said. "This gives them a chance to get square and not have to worry about an outstanding warrant.

"This is a good way to get people back on track ... And it gives those people a chance to relax over the holidays," he said.

More than 1,500 people took advantage of the city's warrant moratorium over the last two years.

To take advantage of the moratorium this year, people with qualifying warrants must go to the city Warrant Division at 2240 Civic Center Drive between Dec. 3 and Dec. 31.

Lamb said the moratorium does not excuse someone from paying any fines associated with their case. But she said often the judge will put them on a payment plan at their next court appearance.