Avoiding Jail Time: Bench Warrants And Traffic Fines
Do you have traffic tickets that you have not paid? If so, it could lead to a warrant for your arrest. You could be subject to a bench warrant that can be carried out wherever you are, such as at your office, in front of your children, or out in public. In order to prevent this from happening to you, you need to deal with your traffic issues as soon as possible. The following is what you need to know about bench warrants:
What Does It Mean When There Is A Bench Warrant?
Courts will issue a bench warrant when one has not complied with a court order, such as failing to appear. If you were ordered to appear to deal with your traffic ticket, you could be subject to a bench warrant. You can also face the possibility of getting your license suspended. If you believe that you have unpaid tickets, it is possible that you have a bench warrant. If you take too long to deal with this issue, your consequences can be more severe. This can include jail time or paying expensive bonds and court fees, along with all the fines associated with your ticket. You can face major problems if this happens to you, from a job loss to not being able to rent a home.
How Will You Know If You Have A Bench Warrant
If you have tickets or traffic fines that have not been handled on your end, you need to check to see if there is indeed a warrant for you. To find this information, you can check the website of the court where the ticket was received to see if your name is listed where the warrants are listed. You can also call the courthouse and speak with a clerk.
How Do You Resolve A Bench Warrant?
First, you will need to find out what type of bench warrant you have. There are bond warrants and no bond warrants. Bond warrants only require you to pay your fine to the court and nothing more. Most traffic incidents are no bond warrants, but it ultimately depends on the rules of the county.
Once you have paid your fines, take your proof of payment to the courthouse. You will essentially be turning yourself in. Doing this will decrease the odds that you will spend any time in jail or paying additional fees.
If you find yourself in this incident, be sure to contact an attorney. They can often get a warrant removed altogether, which is very much worth the expense of legal fees. To learn more, contact a firm like Medeiros & Associates.