Suppose you received a traffic citation in the past and put it away, thinking you would pay it “later.” Then your life got busy and you simply forgot all about the ticket. Alternatively you may have agreed to appear in court and enter a plea and the court date slipped right by. Our jobs, children, school, parents, friends—all these combine to take up our time and allow such relatively minor issues as a traffic ticket slip from our mind. You could be shocked to know that because of forgetting something—even as minor as a traffic violation—your name could now be on an arrest warrant due to the Great Texas Warrant Roundup.
What is the Great Texas Warrant Roundup?
The Great Texas Warrant Roundup is now in its seventh year. Last year over 260 jurisdictions across the state participated, and over 300 are participating this year. The “grace” period has already passed and the enforcement phase will begin on March 2, 2013. This is the time when forgetting or neglecting those old traffic tickets may catch up with you—and not in a positive manner. Police officers in the greater Houston area will be out in full force as they track down offenders and execute the arrest warrant. No matter where you might be—home, school, work—there will likely be little sympathy for your plight from police officers or court personnel.
Is Paying Your Ticket the Best Option?
The immediate reaction of most people when they realize there is an actual warrant out for them is to grab their checkbook and hurry to the courthouse. In fact, there are potentially better options for most people and it’s extremely important that you fully consider the long-term effects before you open your pocketbook. Once you pay your fine, you have, in effect, entered a guilty plea. Most of these offenses are Class C misdemeanors and could be as mild as traveling a few miles above the posted speed limit, forgetting to get your inspection done on time or neglecting to have an insurance card in your glove box.
While these are minor offenses, a conviction means points will accrue on your permanent driving record. You could garner two points or even three points depending on the specific violation and should you have other points on your driving record you could find yourself in serious hot water because you paid the ticket without benefit of consulting a knowledgeable attorney. You could end up with substantial surcharges which you will be required to pay to the state of Texas for as long as three years, you could see a significant increase in your insurance premiums and you could even end up losing your license for a period of time.
Even though these are misdemeanors, they are nevertheless considered criminal, meaning a potential employer could turn them up during a routine background check. So, hold off on paying that old traffic ticket until you have discussed your particular situation with a Sullo & Sullo attorney. If you are in any of the following jurisdictions we can help: 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. We can post a bond on your behalf, removing the threat of arrest, then discuss your potential options before you make a decision that could affect your future.