Fargo judge offers offenders option of working off fine by sandbagging

FARGO – Individuals with unpaid, delinquent fines with warrants out for their arrest now have an opportunity to work off those fines by sandbagging.

Fargo Municipal Court Judge Thomas Davies will allow individuals to earn a $10 an hour credit for sandbagging to put toward fines that could ultimately lead to the warrants being withdrawn and no further consequences, according to a news release.

Interested individuals should call the clerk of court at (701) 241-1316 and be scheduled to perform community service through Restore, which will monitor the sandbagging. Credit will be allowed in four-hour increments. Eight-hour increments will be approved if a request for an eight-hour shift is granted.

Individuals may not receive credit for sandbagging not scheduled through Fargo Municipal Court, the release said.

Individuals with other violations that triggered the warrant in addition to the unpaid fine will be allowed to get rid of the violation without further consequences under this proposal. A court date for getting rid of the additional violations will be scheduled when the community service is scheduled, the release said.

This plan is only effective until the emergency passes and the need for volunteer sandbag operations ceases, the release said.

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