Annapolis, Md. (February 25, 2014) – Against a backdrop of uniformed sheriffs from Allegany to Wicomico counties, Comptroller Peter Franchot today urged the Maryland House of Delegates to pass House Bill 610, legislation sponsored by Delegate Anne Kaiser and aimed at expanding the successful warrant intercept program piloted in Anne Arundel County. The program would allow the Comptroller’s Office to withhold tax refunds to Maryland residents who have outstanding warrants.
“This initiative complements my guiding principle of rewarding those taxpayers who abide by the law and aggressively pursuing those who do not. Law enforcement officers and the public they are sworn to protect will benefit — as their counterparts in Anne Arundel County currently do — from this additional public safety tool. This legislation embodies our shared commitment to using all available resources to enforce the law and protect Marylanders” said Comptroller Franchot.
The proposed program mirrors the highly successful Anne Arundel County Warrant Intercept Program which passed into law two years ago and became permanent in 2013. As of February 24, nearly $470,000 in refunds has been withheld from more than 600 individuals with outstanding warrants. Anne Arundel County officials have cleared 480 warrants as a result of this program.
“This law screams efficiency and safety for all involved. It is by far the most fiscally responsible way to reduce the number of outstanding warrants. I’m glad the entire state is embracing this concept,” said Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ronald Bateman.
The initiative is strongly supported by law enforcement throughout the state and has garnered the support of the Maryland Sheriff’s Association.
“Maryland Sheriff’s Offices and other law enforcement agencies need innovative techniques to reduce the pending criminal arrest warrant backlog while maintaining fiscal accountability. The Maryland Sheriff’s Association believes that this legislation will assist in achieving our goal of reducing outstanding warrants in an efficient and effective manner,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Darren M. Popkin, who serves as current president of the Maryland Sheriffs Association.
The Comptroller provided support for Senate Bill 653, the cross file of House Bill 610, sponsored by Senator John Astle. SB 653 recently was heard in the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Delegate Kaiser, Senator Astle and the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention echo the efficiency and increased safety of the warrant program.
“A warrant intercept program is a simple, efficient way to reduce the number of outstanding warrants in the state,” said Delegate Kaiser. “With the implementation of a tax refund withholding program, the state will be able to drastically reduce the number of outstanding warrants, allowing law enforcement agencies to focus on more pressing issues. This bill will help to keep more Marylanders safe by allowing law enforcement personnel to do what they do best: keep the public safe,” said Delegate Kaiser.
“This is a program that started as a pilot in Anne Arundel County which has worked extremely well in lowering the number of warrants held by the Sheriff’s Office,” said Senator Astle.
“The statewide program would be an expansion of the initiative implemented in Anne Arundel County with great success,” said Tammy Brown, executive director for the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. “This initiative decreases the level of danger for members of law enforcement who would otherwise need to serve these warrants in person.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Christine Feldmann, 410-260-6346 (office), 443-336-0215 (cell)
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.