Orange County Announces DWI Warrant Amnesty Program

Judge Troy Johnson and Sheriff Jimmy Lane Mooney announce a DWI warrant amnesty program beginning May 1 and running through the end of May.

If a person with an outstanding warrant out of Orange County for a misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated offense shows up in person and turns themselves in at the Orange County Jail during the amnesty period, he/she will save hundreds of dollars by getting a PR or personal bond from the Court and the bond will not require an interlock device to be installed on their vehicle. Those who turn themselves in during the month of May will get a quick release from the jail after a short book-in process and will avoid paying for bail bonds and an expensive interlock device. Everyone who takes advantage of the amnesty program will have their cases heard in the County Court at Law No. 2 on June 8 at 2:00 p.m.

The Court feels that the time has come to implement the amnesty program because of the large number of DWI cases in the Court. There are more than 300 pending DWI cases in the Court and more than half of the cases are “inactive” which means that the defendant in those cases has not been arrested for the DWI. “DWI cases are some of the most important cases we handle. The large number of inactive DWI cases is unacceptable and this program is a way to finally get those people into the courtroom. The pandemic is to blame for many of these inactive cases,” explained Judge Johnson.

The County Court at Law No. 2 wants to thank Sheriff Mooney and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for their cooperation in this program.

It is important to note that the amnesty program only applies to those who are charged with a misdemeanor offense of Driving While Intoxicated in Orange County, Texas and who show up in person to take care of the warrant at the Orange County Jail. This amnesty program does not apply if:

• you get arrested for the warrant before you turn yourself in

• you turn yourself in at another jail

• the DWI charge is classified as a FELONY

• the DWI warrant is from another county

• you have felony warrants

• you have outstanding warrants existing in other counties (you will probably be arrested if there are felony warrants or warrants in other counties)

• you have a warrant for a Motion to Revoke or Motion to Impose Guilt after having been placed on probation for a DWI offense.

To look up an outstanding warrant in Orange County, click here or go to the Orange County, Texas website and click “County Warrants”