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“Now I can go to work!” Have a municipal warrant in Milwaukee? Get it lifted — for FREE!
"Now I can go to work!" Have a municipal warrant in Milwaukee? Get it lifted -- for FREE!
MILWAUKEE -- They gathered by the thousands. The line wrapped around a building in downtown Milwaukee. It wasn't a job fair or big sale that attracted many. It was the possibility of getting their municipal warrants lifted. It was first come, first served. But this was a pilot program that was so successful that the judges doing it are staying late Wednesday, November 2nd (until 6:30 p.m.) to take care of all the people.
Line outside City of Milwaukee Municipal Court
People with all kinds of reasons for having outstanding municipal warrants came to the City of Milwaukee's Municipal Court on Wednesday for walk-in help. Some who came had unpaid tickets, revoked licenses or suspended licenses.
The deal offered for many -- a payment plan for the fines and immediate reinstatement of their driver's license or car registration suspension.
Line outside City of Milwaukee Municipal Court
Altjuan Jeter, for example, wants to be a truck driver -- and needed to get his driver's license back.
"There's a lot of things going on in this city that's very bad. A lot of sadness. A lot of people losing people, and this right here gives people a chance to be human again. If I get pulled over, I'm not going to make it to that job or I'm going to jail just over some tickets. I get my license back and reinstated. Now I can go to work. That's all that matters," Jeter said.
Line outside City of Milwaukee Municipal Court
The below situations apply in this case:
The only exception is in cases where folks have building or zoning code violations -- and determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis in these situations.
All of this is an effort to get people off the hook so they can drive to jobs or obtain employment.
Everyone who showed up on the first day of this pilot program had different stories.
"A municipal citation around 2009 -- and as a result, I was denied consideration for employment," said Kenneth King, who came to talk to a judge.
Line outside City of Milwaukee Municipal Court
There are an estimated 100,000 warrants in Milwaukee for unpaid fines. On Wednesday, November 2nd, several thousand were taken care of.
Municipal court judges Derek Mosely, Phillip Chavez and Valarie Hill stressed that no one will be arrested.
This program will take place on the first THREE WEDNESDAYS of November -- November 2nd, November 9th and November 16th. Hours are: 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. -- and 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. All that's required is that you show up in Municipal Court.
Milwaukee Alderman Khalif Rainey issued this statement on this program: