OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County residents with outstanding warrants lined up outside county court early Friday morning for "Safe Surrender Day."
"Safe Surrender Day" allows people to have their warrants cleared in less than a day.
Residents with outstanding warrants were lined up by 8 a.m. Friday at Heritage Park.
The people were all wanted for nonviolent, misdemeanor crimes and were allowed to clear their warrants by showing up voluntarily, filling out paperwork and appearing before a judge.
The program doesn't absolve them from their crimes, but allows them to get reduced fines, probation requirements or new court dates instead of prison time, authorities said.
"It was pretty easy. It felt comfortable. I didn't feel like anyone was watching me," Fernando Pesantes said. "I didn't feel like a criminal at all. It was comfortable."
Pesantes had a warrant for petty theft and drove from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to have it cleared.
There are currently 6,000 outstanding warrants for misdemeanors and traffic offenses in the county, authorities said.
The county sent out 4,000 postcards offering people the chance to participate in "Safe Surrender Day."