Hundreds Take Advantage Of Hot Check Amnesty
El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal on Tuesday announced that hundreds of individuals took advantage of the hot check amnesty period that began on May 14, 2010.
During the amnesty period, people who paid their outstanding balances avoided payment of various charges, such as court costs, attorney fees, and the cost of posting a bond after arrest.
Individuals who did not take advantage of the amnesty period will be targeted during upcoming county-wide warrant round-ups being coordinated by the County Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, local constables and the Fort Bliss Military police.
Since the amnesty period began, 451 El Paso residents took advantage of the program paying 562 outstanding hot-checks that amounted to more than $74,300.
Individuals with outstanding hot-checks may attempt to avoid arrest in the upcoming roundups by paying as soon as possible. However, the amnesty period is over, and law enforcement officers can conduct arrests at any time without prior notice. Payments can be made at the following locations:
El Paso County Courthouse 500 E. San Antonio, room 503 (5th floor) Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
El Paso County Ysleta Annex 9521 Socorro Rd., Suite A-3 Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Forms of payment accepted include most credit cards, money orders, cashiers checks, and cash; those paying cash will have to bring the exact amount (cashiers can’t give change). In addition, individuals can make payments online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through “Hot Check E-pay,” by visiting the El Paso County Attorney’s Office web-page at www.epcounty.com/CA.
For more information regarding hot check payments and balances please contact the El Paso County Attorney’s Office Hot Check Unit at 546-2051.
The list with the names of individuals and outstanding amounts will remain posted at the El Paso County’s main web page at www.epcounty.com.
During last fiscal year (2008-2009) the Hot Check Unit collected 1.2 million dollars in outstanding hot checks.
