Worried about an unpaid traffic ticket? Seattle Municipal Court wants to help

People with outstanding warrants and traffic fines in Seattle will have an opportunity to get them resolved on Thursday.

Court employees and attorneys will set up shop between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Lake City Community Center to help people resolve their legal issues.

Chief Clerk Josh Sattler says at first some people were leery of arrest but the word is getting out.

“We had a woman that we helped and it was actually for a traffic ticket and she Facebook lived herself saying, ‘Hey look everybody I’m not getting arrested, it’s legit,’” Sattler said.

The court resource center will also be on site to help connect people with housing, employment, even clothing. Court staff can answer questions about the legal process, schedule hearings, and provide information on resources.

There are 9,400 outstanding warrants in Seattle.

Sattler says this event makes the court more accessible.

“The issue we really want to get out with this next one is trying to establish the court as a member of the community and not just scary or walking through metal detectors. We really just want to be a strong presence in the community,” Sattler said.

It makes fiscal sense too. Resolving warrants is much less costly than serving time in jail.