What happens if a failure to pay fine warrant is issued in Maryland?

News flash on how your tax dollars are spent on a failure to pay fine warrant.

In Baltimore, judges will order fines for certain cases. If the fine isn’t paid on time, a failure to pay fine warrant will be issued for the your arrest.

Baltimore City failure to pay fine warrant

Today, I ran across a case where a man was charged with simple possession of marijuana less than 10 grams in 2014.

It isn’t even a crime anymore!

In 2014, he was placed on unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a fine.

Allegedly, he didn’t pay the fine. So, a Baltimore City judge funded by state tax dollars ordered a Baltimore City Police Officer, funded by city dollars, to go and arrest the man.

His last known address, a homeless shelter.

He’s not arrested for two years because in Baltimore the police don’t actively serve most warrants.

Last week, he was finally arrested at the homeless shelter. He was taken to a state funded jail and interviewed by a state funded commissioner.

He told commissioner that he makes $90 a month working for a temp agency.

The man appears in court, a state funded building, and the judge dismisses the case.  However, the judge orders the fine to be collected by the state funded Central Collections Unit.

So, sometime in the future, Maryland may attempt to garnish his wages.  Meanwhile,  his unpaid fine will be accumulating collection fees.

Maryland tax payers just spent thousands of dollars to arrest a homeless guy for a $5 blunt failure to fine warrant.

Schedule a free Carroll County Criminal Defense Lawyer Consultation

Carroll County Criminal Defense Lawyer Ross W. Albers offers a free consultation to explain and review your Carroll County criminal arrest.  During your free consultation, Albers & Associates will review the facts, charges, and possible criminal penalties of your Carroll County criminal arrest.

Contact Albers & Associates today to schedule a free consultation.  Evening and weekend appointments are available.