Opelika court forgiveness offers rare chance to resolve FTA warrant, avoid arrest
OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – Individuals with outstanding Failure to Appear (FTA) warrants in Opelika have a rare opportunity to resolve their cases without the risk of arrest. Opelika Municipal Court is once again offering its Court Forgiveness Program, which runs through March 31, to help residents avoid financial and legal burdens associated with missed court dates.
Municipal Court Judge Ben Hand, who has served Opelika for 16 years, says the program is designed to give people a chance to clear their warrants and move forward.
'I like to give them the benefit of the doubt. I want to see them prove themselves. I like to see somebody make an effort to make themselves better. If you get stopped by a police officer, there's nothing I can do for you at that point,' Hand explained. 'But if you come here voluntarily and bring your ID, there's a lot I can do to help you out.'
The program allows individuals with FTA warrants to come to Opelika Municipal Court with identification and have their warrant withdrawn on the spot. They will still need to address the original citation or offense, but the additional fines and penalties for missing court will be dismissed.
'What we are trying to do is help people out through the month of March,' Hand said. 'We have 2,000 FTA cases, and our goal is to clear 20 to 25 percent of them through this program.'
An FTA warrant is issued when a person fails to appear in court for a scheduled hearing, even for minor offenses like unpaid traffic tickets. If an individual is stopped by law enforcement while an FTA warrant is active, officers are required to make an arrest, which can lead to:
Additional fines
Court costs
Jail time
A required cash bond to be released
'It's a nightmare,' Hand said. 'You could have just forgotten about your ticket or put it on your dashboard and missed the date. But once that FTA is issued, if a police officer pulls you over, they are obligated to arrest you.'
Judge Hand acknowledges some people are skeptical about the program.
'At first, they thought it was a trick—that we were just trying to throw people in jail,' he said. 'But then they realized, no, it's not a trick. We really are trying to help folks out.'
This is the second time Opelika has offered the Court Forgiveness Program, with the first session clearing up 17 percent of outstanding cases.
To take advantage of the Court Forgiveness Program, individuals must:
Visit Opelika Municipal Court at 300 MLK Boulevard
Bring a valid ID
Resolve the original ticket or violation
Failure to take advantage of this program means individuals remain at risk of arrest and additional costs if they come into contact with law enforcement.
'If an FTA warrant is holding you up because you're worried about going to jail, come on up and get it off the books,' Hand urged. 'We'll work with you on payment plans, schooling, or community service, so it doesn't put you in a financial bind.'
The program runs through March 31. For more information, visit www.opelika-al.govor call Opelika Municipal Court at 334-705-5196.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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