KANSAS CITY, Mo. — People with bench warrants and past due fines could catch a break through March 31 from the Kansas City, Missouri, Municipal Court.
The court, in conjunction with the KCMO Prosecutor’s Office, is working on a special campaign called #ResolveIt, which will allow people to have warrants recalled and past-due fines discounted.
“Our ‘Resolve It’ effort will reduce the financial burden of residents and visitors with outstanding fines and violations in our municipal court system,” City Manager Brian Platt said in a statement announcing the program. “By clearing out the backlog caused by the pandemic, we will also reduce the number of people who need to come to the courthouse, which will help staff and visitors stay healthy and safe.”
There are three ways people can take advantage of the Resolve It program.
KCMO has created a virtual Warrant Recall Walk-In docket from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
During those hearings, a judge can cancel outstanding warrants for failure to appear in past cases and either set a new court date or, in some cases, resolve the case.
There is also a virtual Parking Fine Reduction docket from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, where fines will be reduced in exchange for a guilty plea.
Zoom links and information for the warrant recall and fine reduction court dockets are available on the city’s “Resolve It” website.
To receive a 20% discount on past due fines, people must contact the KCMO Municipal Court in writing before paying or attempting any outstanding fines.
After completing the online Resolve It form, it must be emailed to MCPayment@kcmo.org; mailed to Municipal Court Violations Bureau, 511 E. 11th St., Kansas City, MO 64106; dropped in a box inside the Municipal Court lobby at the same address; or faxed to 816-513-6782.
The reduced balance must be paid in full by March 31, though payment plans and community service agreements are possible in some circumstances. The discount does not apply to court-mandated restitution.
KCMO’s municipal court is the largest city-operated court in Missouri.
