Sunday, March 4, 2012

Could Houston’s Annual Warrant Roundup Affect You?

Every year the state of Texas holds a two-month long great warrant roundup and if you happen to be “asked” to participate in the roundup it is not nearly as much fun as it might sound. Those individuals who have neglected to pay a traffic ticket or other Class C misdemeanor ticket may find themselves actively pursued under a City of Houston arrest warrant. Just last March Houston began their annual warrant roundup clearing nearly 30,000 warrants, netting two and a half million dollars in outstanding fines and making over four thousand arrests. These roundups are a significant source of revenue for Texas counties, however if your name is on the warrant list should you simply pay up? While the threat of being arrested at your home or place of work is frightening enough to cause you to immediately write out a check, in many cases it is much more advantageous to consult an experienced traffic attorney who can offer you some options.

Posting a Bond vs. Paying Your Tickets
If you know that you have an outstanding Houston arrest warrant you are probably in a better position than those who are unaware of the fact. Knowledge of the arrest warrant gives you time to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation such as being arrested in front of your boss and co-workers. Before the roundup officially kicks into gear, you have the option of posting a Harris county traffic bond which can give you some time to decide how you want to handle the situation. A Sugarland bond or Jersey Village bond can also be posted should you reside in those areas. Posting a bond is not difficult and can allow you and your attorney to decide whether you will ultimately pay your tickets and suffer the consequences or fight for a better end result such as deferred adjudication or a mandated defensive driving course. Simply paying your ticket can result in a variety of repercussions, none of them particularly good. You will accrue points on your driver’s license, be subject to higher insurance rates and in some cases your employment may even be affected.

Options for Paying Your City of Houston Bond
To avoid having an officer knock on your door and take you to jail, you have the following options for removing your Harris County arrest warrant. You can post a cash bond with the court or you can post a bond with a bonding company or through your attorney. A final option to have your warrant dismissed is to appear in court on the day and time when walk-ins are allowed in your area court and speak with the prosecutor. This strategy can resolve your charges and allow you to enter a not guilty plea with the judge. Although you could potentially be taken into custody at this time, it is unlikely since you are there to find a resolution to the situation.

Forgetting to pay a traffic fine may sound minor, but it can quickly turn into a major ordeal once a Houston arrest warrant has been issued. Hiring an attorney may seem a bit extreme for this situation, but if your goal is to avoid long-term complications then it could truly be the most advantageous solution.

Author: Sullo & Sullo Attorneys

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