Today's Article

Holding her daughter, Molly, Kaylee Morgan spoke to me about her trip to 4DPS about two weeks ago.

"When I get there, they tell me that they cannot 5renew my driver's license because I 6have a warrant out for my arrest. And this was news to me. I haven't been pulled over. I've never 7been in any sort of legal trouble." 

She called the courts and found out the warrant was for 8theft of government property. 

"It's over a library book that I turned in late." 

She checked out the books back in March of last year from the Navasota Public Library. 

"So it was a part of our homeschool study. It was a book I don't even remember the title. It was a book on Vincent Van Gogh." 

Kaylee says she forgot to return the books on the 9due date and was dealing with 10pregnancy complications. Her husband tried returning them two months later. 

"I explained all of this to the judge. My husband was working in Houston, and we were in Bedias it was about a 30-minute hike to the library. When he was dropping off the book, it was in the morning and the book did not fit in the return box." 

According to a 11city ordinance, refusal or failure to return books or items within 30 days from the due date will result in the person's library card being 12revoked. The ordinance goes on to say any person who damages or destroys books could face a 13misdemeanor 14fine, punishable up to $500. Kaylee says the ordinance is 15excessive. 

"There are so many other things that we could do as a 16consequence because I do agree having a time frame for library books is important so everybody can participate, but maybe community service, you returned a book late so now you come do story time with the kiddos."