Baytown woman arrested for overdue library book

Thursday, June 29, 2006

(6/29/06 - KTRK/BAYTOWN, TX) (KTRK) -- A Baytown woman got pulled over, thinking she'd just get a ticket. Instead, she was arrested and you won't believe why. It's a story that will have you thinking twice about keeping those library books long after they're due.

Making sure her eight-year-old son, Jose, is a proficient reader is important to Joanne Ibarra, so books are also important. They just might not be coming from Baytown's Sterling Library anymore.

"I don't want to see them. I don't want to see any more books, not right now," laughed Ibarra.

Ibarra laughs it off, but it was a serious situation that all started Tuesday when a Baytown officer pulled her over for a traffic violation near Commerce and West Texas Avenue. The officer issued three traffic citations for disregarding a traffic sign, no insurance, and no driver's license. But then he found a warrant and the cuffs came out.

Ibarra couldn't believe the reason for her arrest.

"I didn't know you could go to jail for not returning a library book," she said.

"It's a violation of the city ordinance," explained Baytown Assistant City Manager Kelvin Knauf.

Knauf said both the city attorney and the library sent Ibarra notices about her overdue book and her $118 fine.

After months with no response, a warrant was issued for her arrest and the rest is history. Ibarra says she never received the notices because she moved, but she accepts responsibility for her actions, even though she thinks the consequence was extreme.

"We want them to obey the rules and obey the city ordinances and return the materials on time," siad Knauf.

As for the book in question, Ibarra says she's not even sure which book it was. On Tuesday, she paid the $118 fine and $50 court cost.

As for the city of Houston, they refer overdue library book cases to collection agencies.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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