One of the first things that a police officer does after he or she has pulled you over for a minor traffic violation is to “run your license” which means they’re looking to see if you have a criminal history that they should be aware of but also see if you have any outstanding warrants for your arrest. Often, people aren’t even aware that a warrant has been issued for their arrest.
Types of Warrants
There are two kinds of warrants: a bench warrant and an arrest warrant. A bench warrant tells law enforcement to arrest you if they have apprehended you for any reason. Bench warrants are usually for a failure to appear in court, pay court-ordered child or spousal support, or failure to pay all those parking tickets that have piled up over the years. An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement has evidence you have committed a crime. Both mean that you’ll be arrested when they find you.
What Not To Do
If you know that you have a warrant, the best thing that you can do is not ignore it. It isn’t something that will go away. Instead, what will happen is that you’ll be stopped for a traffic violation, they’ll discover your warrant and arrest you and impound your car. If they arrest you at home, your family and neighbors will see you being arrested and taken away by the police. You could even be arrested at work which not only would be an embarrassing thing to happen in front of your co-workers, you could very well lose your job. The best thing you can do is deal with your warrant before this happens.
What To Do
Deal with it now. Don’t wait. If it’s for a minor infraction, call the police and ask them what you should do. For things such as failing to pay a traffic ticket, you may be able to plead guilty and pay the fine or post bail so you can stay out of jail until you go to court. In some jurisdictions, the police can handle the bail proceedings or release you on your own recognizance. There will likely be added fines but you may be able to make arrangements for a repayment plan.
If your warrant is for something more serious, call an attorney to facilitate your surrender. If you’re eligible for bail, your surrender may be able to be arranged in such a way that you spend little or no time in jail until you are released on bail.
By turning yourself in, you not only avoid an embarrassing arrest scenario but you also are showing the court that you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions. It also gives you time to make arrangements. It will help you arrange time off from work for your surrender and research and chose a bail bond agent to be ready for your bail hearing. They may be able to get things started to further reduce your time in jail after your arrest. By arranging a date and time for your surrender, you can reduce your chances of spending the weekend behind bars by turning yourself in earlier in the week.
Ignoring a warrant won’t make it go away. If you have a warrant and need a bail bond agent in Texas, AAAA Discount Bail Bonds can help. We’re a full-service bail bonding agency with two locations serving southeast Texas, but we can write bonds nationwide. We’re available 24/7 to help get your loved one out of jail quickly and discreetly and back home where he or she belongs. For your convenience, we now offer e-bonds which allows you to do all of your paperwork from your smartphone! If you or a loved one has been arrested, call AAAA Discount Bail Bonds today at (936)539-4444.