By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Alabaster will give those with outstanding traffic and other minor offenses two chances to clear their records without being booked into the city’s jail during a pair of amnesty court days.

The amnesty days will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Alabaster City Hall annex building on Friday, April 27 and on Friday, May 25. The City Hall annex is located behind City Hall off First Street Northwest.

When a person is issued a traffic ticket and does not appear at their city court date, the city issues a warrant for their arrest. The warrant also could suspend a person’s driver’s license.

During the amnesty days, those with outstanding traffic violations or other minor warrants can appear in court, plead guilty and pay the fines associated with the charge. The city will then recall the outstanding warrants to keep the person from having an arrest record and paying city jail booking fees.

The city will also issue a driver’s license clearance to allow the Alabama Department of Pubic Safety to reinstate any suspended driver’s licenses.

Amnesty court will not cover more serious offenses, such as misdemeanor charges.

Alabaster currently has about 3,000 outstanding warrants, Municipal Court officials said.

“It helps us clear our warrants, and it keeps those people from having to go through the booking process,” said Alabaster Deputy Police Chief Curtis Rigney.

Rigney said the city will only offer amnesty during the two amnesty court days.

“After that, and it’s back to going to jail,” Rigney said.

Those with outstanding warrants in municipal court can call the court at 664-6835 before the amnesty court days and learn what it will take to clear their records. Municipal court accepts cash, money orders and cashiers checks.