What Is the Great Texas Warrant Roundup of 2014?
Now in its eighth season, by all accounts the Great Texas Warrant Roundup of 2013—as well as those held in prior years—was a success. It is expected that over 300 Texas agencies will participate in the 2014 Roundup; although no firm date has yet been announced, the enforcement phase of the Roundup is usually slated for the first part of March. Prior to the enforcement phase, residents of Houston and surrounding areas are encouraged to take care of any outstanding Class C misdemeanor offenses such as traffic, parking, city ordinance or other penal code violations. Two to three weeks prior to the enforcement phase of the Warrant Roundup, notifications are sent, when possible, to those whose name is on the warrant list.
Don’t count on such a notification, however, as the numbers are simply too high. While it fluctuates significantly, in some months, the number of Houston warrants can exceed 300,000, making a comprehensive notification program almost impossible. Should you neglect to settle your warrants—or allow a Houston Warrant Roundup Lawyer to settle them on your behalf—you could find yourself being given a free ride in a police cruiser. You could also find that a hold has been placed on your vehicle registration through Texas DMV as part of the Scofflaw Program, and you may even be denied a driver’s license renewal.
Who if Affected by the Warrant Roundup?
A warrant, in its simplest terms, is an order by a judge to arrest someone, usually for failure to appear for a court date. Further, when you fail to appear in court, a new criminal charge known as Failure to Appear, may also be filed against you. The warrant and the Failure to Appear are separate issues, however a well-qualified Houston Warrant Roundup attorney can assist you in taking care of both. Perhaps you are well aware of a warrant against you, due most likely to a traffic violation you neglected to take care of. Maybe you were supposed to appear in court, your life got hectic and you simply forgot, or you neglected to mail in the fine as promised.
You may have thought of the issue from time to time, mostly hoping it would simply go away if enough time passed. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and even though you may be one of the most law-abiding citizens in Houston, you could find yourself being arrested while at work, at home, or in a simple traffic stop. You may not even be aware that there is an arrest warrant out there with your name on it, and could end up shocked and embarrassed when you find yourself in handcuffs. Whatever your situation may be, an experienced Houston traffic bond lawyer can help.
Let Us Look at Your Options Before You Pay Your Outstanding Tickets
Fear of an impending arrest during the Harris County warrant roundup could send you rushing down to the court to pay your outstanding tickets. Before you resort to this solution, take a deep breath, and consider the following. Once you pay an old ticket, you have just admitted your guilt and been convicted of a crime. If the hit to your checkbook was the only consequence, it might be to your benefit to simply pay the old tickets and move on. This is simply not the case. A conviction for a traffic offense will be reported on your driving record, resulting in:
· Substantially higher insurance rates
· Additional points being added to your driving record
· Surcharges paid to the state of Texas for as long as three years
· A suspension of your driver’s license once the points are added on
· The loss of employment (if your ability to drive is an integral part of your job)
Since each moving violation you pay will net you two points and each accident violation you pay brings three points, and considering that it only takes six points on your DPS record during a three-year period to subject you to surcharges, you can see the problem with simply paying those old tickets. Paying for four or more moving violation received during a twelve-month period could result in the loss of your driver’s license, and paying a ticket for no proof of auto insurance can result in a $250 surcharge each year for the next three years. Failing to pay that yearly surcharge could cause your license to be suspended. As you can see, paying those tickets because of your outstanding warrant—although certainly what the City of Houston would prefer—may not be in your best interests.
Who We Can Help
A good Houston warrant roundup lawyer wants you to remember that a traffic ticket is not the same thing as a debt. Even if you have received what appear to be collection letters from the City of Houston, a traffic ticket is nothing more than a citation which alleges that you committed a criminal violation. Under our current justice system, you are considered not guilty until you are proven guilty or you plead guilty (by paying your fine). An experienced Houston Warrant Roundup attorney can post a bond on your behalf, then work to reach an acceptable plea such as deferred adjudication or defensive driving, to avoid a conviction and protect your driver’s license. If you have an outstanding warrant from any of the following jurisdictions, call Houston Warrant Roundup attorney today, before the Texas Warrant Roundup is in full swing.
· Houston Municipal Court
· Jersey Village Municipal Court
· Sugarland Municipal Court
· Stafford Municipal Court
· Missouri City Municipal Court
· Pasadena Municipal Court
· City of South Houston Municipal Court
· Baytown Municipal Court
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1, Judge Gorczynski
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2, Judge Patronella
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1, Judge Parrott
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 1, Judge Adams
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2, Judge Lawrence
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1, Judge Ridgway
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 2, Judge Williams
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 7, Place 2, Judge Burney
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8, Place 1, Judge Williamson
· Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8, Place 2, Judge Ditta