Perhaps you are aware of the Houston Warrant Roundup which is in its eighth year and is just around the corner. Although dates have not yet been finalized, the Roundup generally begins during the last week of February and lasts for several weeks.
Over 260 jurisdictions across Texas take part in the Warrant Roundup which is essentially a period of time during which all those who currently have outstanding warrants and unpaid tickets can come in and pay those fines and fees. A grace period usually kicks off the Roundup during which the majority of offenders will receive notification of their warrant status via mail, phone or through a notice on their door. Keep in mind, however, that not everyone with a warrant will receive notification; people may move or the courts may not have the correct address or phone number. Following the initial notification period law enforcement in the Greater Houston area will actively begin executing the arrest warrants.
Does the Statute of Limitations Apply? If it has been a considerable length of time since you neglected to pay your traffic citations or appear before a judge as ordered you may wonder whether you are safe due to the statute of limitations. Because most of the warrants issued will be for Class C misdemeanors such as speeding tickets, parking tickets, stop light or stop sign violations or failure to display a registration or inspection sticker then the offense falls under the two year statute of limitations. Before you congratulate yourself on having successfully evaded paying a ticket or going before a judge for over two years, read the following carefully. Only in cases of a misdemeanor offense in which a complaint was never filed would you be considered safe from prosecution and this is extremely rare. Complaints are formal, sworn documents—not the same as the original citation issued by the officer. The complaint can be filed even on the very last day of the two-year period and be legally prosecuted.
In fact, complaints are almost always filed, therefore if you have a traffic warrant issued from any of the following courts, you could likely benefit from the advice of a Sullo & Sullo Houston Warrant Roundup Lawyer. We cover Houston Municipal Court, HCJP 1-1, HCJP 1-2, HCJP 3-1, HCJP 4-1, HCJP 4-2, HCJP 5-1, HCJP 5-2, HCJP 7-2, HCJP 8-1, HCJP 8-2, Jersey Village Municipal Court, Sugarland Municipal Court, Stafford Municipal Court, Missouri City Municipal Court, Pasadena Municipal Court, City of South Houston Municipal Court and Baytown Municipal Court. Our highly experienced attorneys can determine the status of your traffic warrant, posting a bond on your behalf if necessary. Keep in mind that an arrest warrant is a separate issue from the Failure to Appear you may also have hanging over your head. Both issues can be resolved and our lawyers can discreetly and effectively work to obtain the best long-term solution for your specific set of circumstances.
The Advantages of Posting a Bond - There are several distinct advantages to having a Sullo & Sullo Warrant Roundup Attorney post a bond on your behalf, quashing the arrest warrant and giving you some breathing room to determine the best course of action. By posting a bond you have taken away the possibility of an embarrassing arrest, executed at your place of employment, your home or even your children’s school. Avoid being humiliated, having handcuffs snapped on your wrists, and being escorted to a police cruiser. Working with a Sullo & Sullo Warrant Roundup Attorney to have a bond posted and eliminate this element is well-worth the financial cost. Further, once the threat of arrest is removed you have the necessary time to determine how to proceed with the underlying charges against you.
Paying a Ticket is Equivalent to a Conviction on Your Driving Record - Believe it or not, even minor traffic violations are considered criminal offenses. When you simply pay your ticket without going before a judge and contesting the charges, then your record will reflect a conviction for the original traffic citation. Many of those under threat of arrest will pay their tickets in a panic in order to remove the threat of arrest. Down the line they realize that this hasty action has many negative repercussions that can last for a very long time. Every conviction on your record places a certain number of points on your driving record. In general you will receive two points for minor infractions and three for offenses accompanied by an accident.
The state of Texas uses this point system as a means of generating revenues in that those people who accumulate more than six points on their record will be assessed a surcharge which must be paid each year for three years. This surcharge starts at $100 and moves upwards according to the number of points on your driving record. Your insurance company also keeps close tabs on the number of points you have accrued on your record and will adjust your rates accordingly. Should you receive a certain number of points your insurance company may consider you a poor risk and drop your coverage altogether. The bottom line is that in addition to having your Sullo & Sullo Houston Warrant Roundup Lawyer post a bond on your behalf, he may also be able to work out a reasonable solution to approaching the original ticket or tickets you received in the most efficient, least expensive, and least invasive to your future.
Getting the Help You Deserve - If our attorneys are able to post a bond and lift your warrant then the original traffic violation will once more be placed before a judge or jury. At this point when you appear before the judge to enter a plea the state will be required to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A plea bargain may be a possibility in order to prevent the traffic ticket from becoming a ticket and costing you points. The Houston Warrant Roundup Lawyers at Sullo & Sullo have considerable experience in the area of traffic convictions and the resulting arrest warrants and can quickly post your bond as well as give you a renewed opportunity to object to the original traffic ticket. Our Houston Warrant Roundup Attorneys are knowledgeable and compassionate legal professionals who will evaluate your individual circumstances and try to seek out the best solution for your future.