Newnan’s Municipal Court will be offering an amnesty period for those defendants who have outstanding failure to appear warrants or driver’s license suspension for failure to appear.
In an effort to reduce the number of Failure To Appear (FTA) for Trial bench warrants, the court will offer amnesty days Aug. 16-18. Hours are 2-4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday or 4-6 p.m. Wednesday.
If a person takes advantage of this amnesty program, the person will not be arrested and booked into the County jail, thereby avoiding a bonding fee. Also, FTA fees (generally $150) will not be assessed.
The person will be arraigned on the original charges on the amnesty days. At the arraignment, the defendant may plead “Not Guilty” or “Guilty”. If the defendant pleads “Not Guilty”, they will have the opportunity to obtain an attorney, and demand a bench or jury trial. If they plead “Guilty”, the Court will impose a sentence which usually involves a fine. Once the sentence has been accepted by the Court, the defendant may ask the Court for payment options.
Once the FTA amnesty period is over, the Newnan Police Department will make a concerted effort to serve the remaining FTA warrants. Those arrested after the amnesty dates will be booked into the County Jail, and FTA fees will be assessed upon their appearance in court.
Persons with FTA warrants are now subject to arrest.
There are also a number of people whose driver’s licenses are in suspension for failing to appear for trial. Though those defendants are not subject to an arrest for failure to appear for trial, they are subject to arrest for driving on a suspended driver’s license. Once the defendant appears in Court for an arraignment on their case, their driver’s license may be reinstated. Those defendants have the same rights at arraignment as those described for defendants with a failure to appear warrant.
If a person thinks they may qualify for this amnesty program, or have questions concerning the amnesty program, they may contact the Clerk of the City of Newnan Municipal Court at 770-253-1226.
