Woman racks up $20,000 in traffic fines

HARLINGEN , Texas, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A woman tallied 86 traffic violation warrants and fees topping $20,000, spreading her civic debt over two Texas communities, Harlingen and San Benito.

Valerie Ortiz Sanchez's scofflaw ways didn't end at Harlingen's borders, where she racked up 76 traffic warrants totaling $18,896 in fines and fees since 1976, the city's Valley Morning Star reported Thursday. In nearby San Benito, officials said she has at least 10 outstanding warrants and owes $2,718 in fines and fees dating back to 2007.

Harlingen police arrested Sanchez Monday after she was pulled over during a routine traffic stop, police spokesman David Osborne said. She was arrested on charges of having an expired registration sticker, not having insurance and not having a driver's license -- and then police discovered the old fines and fees.

Moments after Harlingen officials released Sanchez from jail -- after she made the minimum required payment on the $18,896 in fines and court fees -- San Benito police arrested her.

In Harlingen, a judge dismissed some of the oldest warrants, leaving Sanchez a $15,696 balance due.