More than 600 people with outstanding warrants in Jefferson County could get a surprise visit from law enforcement officers later this month.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Port Townsend Police Department and Washington State Patrol officers plan to go door-to-door to homes and workplaces to apprehend those who have active arrest warrants issued for them.
The program, expected to last only a day, will target those who have committed minor crimes or driving violations and then skipped out on court dates, failed to pay fines or didn’t serve jail time.
Particular emphasis will be placed on drunken driving infractions, officers said.
Police are largely hoping the initiative, which will likely only capture a fraction of those with outstanding warrants, will spur people to come forward on their own.
Police said they plan to publish a list of outstanding warrants prior going door-to-door and may call on the suspected lawbreakers at home and work.
“We want to give people the opportunity to take care of it themselves,” said Linda Pfafman, Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinator for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. “If they don’t, they can expect us on their doorstep.”
As of Friday, 610 people had outstanding warrants issued by Jefferson County.
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