Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff
Sheriff Hofmann supports Passage of Statewide Tax Refund-Warrant Intercept Bill
Annapolis, Md. (February 25, 2014) – Sheriff Gary Hofmann was in Annapolis supporting Comptroller Peter Franchot today when he urged the Maryland House of Delegates to pass House Bill 610, legislation sponsored by Delegate Anne Kaiser aimed at expanding the successful warrant intercept program piloted in Anne ArundelCounty. The program would allow the Comptroller’s Office to withhold tax refunds to Maryland residents who have outstanding warrants.
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.
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.
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.
4 comments:
What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? A warrant isn't a jury's decision. Franchot is a friggin crook to withhold due tax refunds based on some court's action.
They with hold the tax refund until your outstanding arrest warrant is served. Show up for court when you're supposed to and you won't have a problem. What does this have to do with innocent until proven guilty?
"What does this have to do with innocent until proven guilty?"
Quite a bit. By law, that tax overpayment belongs to you. A warrant doesn't make you a felon but withholding something belonging to you makes the Comtroller a felon.
Your answer doesn't have anything to do with my question. When you show up for court and your case is adjudicated you still get your tax refund. They don't keep it. Its kind of like using the refund as bond to make sure you go to court. Show up for court and you get your money. You do want people that have outstanding arrest warrants to be held responsible for their actions don't you?
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