February 27, 2015 - Here comes the 2015 Great Houston, Texas Warrant Roundup! Perhaps you are aware of the past Roundups, which usually begin in early February, ending in early March. The first phase of the Roundup is considered the amnesty phase. During this two-three week period, all of those with outstanding warrants will be strongly encouraged to come down and pay their tickets. An official kickoff date for the enforcement phase of the 2015 Roundup is set for March 07, 2015.
All compassion on the part of municipalities will then go out the window as the enforcement phase begins. During this week law enforcement will be out in full force, executing arrest warrants. The police officers will not care if you are at home with your family, at work or even standing in line at the grocery store. Despite the fact that your arrest warrant is for a relatively minor traffic offense, you could find yourself having handcuffs snapped on as you are taken to jail in the back of a police cruiser. Aside from the embarrassment of being arrested, you may spend time in jail as you attempt to find an attorney who can help you out.
Officers in the Houston area—as well as in other large Texas cities—now have the capacity to scan license plates with an electronic device which immediately identifies those with an outstanding warrant. The device can scan literally hundreds of plates within a mere minute, so it is unrealistic of you to think you might be able to skate through the Roundup without negative repercussions.
Why is the Great Texas Warrant Roundup Held Each Year?
Ostensibly as a means of allowing all those with outstanding tickets to “wipe the slate clean,” in fact there is a very powerful financial motivation behind the cities’ encouragement for all those with tickets to come in and pay up. The City of Houston alone collected more than $2.5 million in 2013 and 2014, and this year will likely be no exception. Unfortunately, more than 4,000 arrests were also made each year. While this is certainly enough to convince you to open your checkbook and pay your fines and fees, before you panic and do so, consider the ramifications.
The Many Consequences of Paying Your Tickets
When you pay a traffic violation you plead guilty to the offense and receive a conviction. This conviction, while for a misdemeanor, still goes on your criminal record, available for potential employers to see. You will also receive points for your offense, usually two for a moving violation and three for an accident. When you have accrued six points within a twelve-month period, you could find yourself without a driver’s license. The State of Texas also adds a surcharge in some instances which can be between $100 and $1,000 per year for a minimum of three years.
Insurance companies check driving records periodically, adjusting your rates accordingly. If you accrue eight points they may drop you altogether. If your warrant is for failing to appear in court, you may also have to deal with a Failure to Appear charge and will be forced to pay at least a $50 warrant fee. As you can see, the fines, fees and long-term repercussions are adding up quickly from your decision to pay your traffic tickets.
How Your Sullo & Sullo Houston Traffic Ticket Attorney Can Help
You are likely feeling stressed and anxious, with the realization that not only could you be arrested, you may also be facing hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in fines and fees. Even if you can afford to pay all those fines and fees, you will still have to deal with the points on your license and the increase in your insurance rates. By calling a Sullo & Sullo Houston warrant roundup lawyer, you can have a bond posted on your behalf. This should remove the threat of arrest almost immediately.
Your original ticket will be placed back on the docket and you can discuss with your skilled Sullo & Sullo attorney how best to proceed. Depending on the circumstances of your original ticket, your attorney may be able to negotiate a deferred adjudication, have you take a driver's safety course, or have the charges dismissed entirely. Any way you look at it, this is a much better option than opening your wallet and paying your ticket.