Anne Arundel Sheriff: Link Tax Refunds To Warrants

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Anne Arundel County residents who have outstanding arrest warrants would see their state tax refunds withheld if the county's sheriff gets his wish.

Sheriff Ronald S. Bateman has asked the county's legislative delegation to support his proposal. The Capital of Annapolis newspaper reports that the legislation would make Anne Arundel the first Maryland jurisdiction where people with an outstanding arrest warrant could not receive a state tax refund until it's cleared up.

Bateman said withholding the refunds would encourage people facing warrants for minor crimes to clear them up.

The county has about 8,000 outstanding arrest warrants. About half are for people who live outside the county. They would not be covered.

The county delegation has not voted on whether to work for the bill's passage.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)