Sunday, February 26, 2012

Avoiding an Arrest in Texas by Posting a Bond

Suppose you are unpleasantly surprised to find there is a City of Houston warrant for your arrest as a result of an unpaid traffic ticket or a failure to appear in court as promised. Of course your primary goal is to avoid an embarrassing arrest which could take place wherever the police happen to find you. Whether you are at work in front of your co-workers and boss, at home having dinner with your family or even on your way to pick up your children from school, the police could arrest you—handcuffs, a ride in the police car, the whole humiliating experience. While you can be arrested for an outstanding warrant at any time, most Houston traffic warrant arrests occur during a traffic stop. While this may be marginally less embarrassing, it can cause you all sorts of inconveniences and expense.

When to Post a Bond?
If you’ve forgotten to pay a ticket or appear in court and you have determined there is a warrant for your arrest, your first line of defense should be to post a bond to immediately remove the threat of arrest. Our legal system provides a pretty great way to get out from under warrants and the risk of arrest without first paying the fines and suffering through the consequences which result. This is easily accomplished in the form posting a bond. You can post your bond in person, have a bondsman post the bond for you or have your chosen attorney post the bond on your behalf. Having your Houston attorney post your bond can be the least risky method since you could theoretically be arrested as you wait in line at the courthouse to post your own bond. While not likely, it is possible, and it’s a good idea to avoid that possibility by letting your attorney post the bond for you.

What Posting a Bond Accomplishes?
Once you post a bond you are no longer subject to the City of Houston warrant and potential arrest, as the bond immediately suspends the warrant. Even better, posting a bond does not convict you of the underlying traffic tickets as paying the ticket does. When you pay a traffic ticket in Texas you have effectively pled guilty to whatever offense you were charged with. This means a conviction will go onto your driving record, and since each conviction adds points to your record, you could find yourself dealing with the aftermath of paying those tickets for years to come.

You could end up paying exorbitant surcharges to the state of Texas for three years or more, could see your insurance rates rise dramatically, could jeopardize your driver’s license, especially a CDL license, and could even lose your job if it is dependent upon your having a clean driving record. Having your attorney post a bond on your behalf allows you to receive a new court date to appear before the judge and fight your old traffic tickets. While the City of Houston wants you to believe that your traffic ticket is a debt you owe, in fact that is not the case. A traffic ticket simply alleges that you committed a specific criminal violation—if you refuse to plead guilty, then the prosecution has the burden to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Why Hire a Harris County Traffic Attorney?
Many people don’t see the need to hire an attorney for something as simple as a traffic citation. While the citation itself is relatively minor, it is nonetheless a criminal offense, meaning a criminal conviction should you plead guilty or be convicted by a judge. Even though the traffic ticket is minor, the far-reaching repercussions are not. Allowing an attorney to plead your case before the judge could result in reduced charges, or possibly even a dismissal of the charges altogether. If your attorney saves you from points on your driving record, exorbitant surcharges assessed by the State of Texas, an increase in your insurance rates and a possible driver’s license suspension, then his or her fee will end up being a relatively minor expense.

Author: Sullo & Sullo Attorneys

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