Find Yourself in a Houston Texas Warrant Search?
Although many of us are under the impression that neglecting to show up for a simple traffic ticket hearing is really no big deal, should you find yourself being taken into custody under a City of Houston arrest warrant you may be shocked to realize how serious it really is. Perhaps you were busy and simply forgot about your court appearance, or maybe you really thought it was not crucial that you appear. If you suddenly find yourself being arrested—in a critical situation with no prior warning—you are likely stunned and scared, wondering what to do next. Many times these Houston arrest warrants are carried out at your home or place of work, causing embarrassment and humiliation. In some cases you may be stopped for something simple like a broken tail light and find yourself being loaded into a police car once the officer runs your license and sees the outstanding warrant. However it occurred, it would be very wise to contact an experienced attorney who can assist you with your legal crisis.
After the Arrest
As if it weren’t bad enough being arrested, possibly in front of family members or co-workers, you still have hurdles to get past. You will be obligated to post a Harris county bond or bail bond in order to ensure you don’t linger in a jail cell. As soon as the bond is posted it will be necessary for you to appear in front of a judge and offer a reasonable explanation as to why you missed your first court date. Although you have every reason to be upset, it is never wise to put forth an angry attitude toward the judge, rather you should be respectful and polite. Don’t forget that it is within the judge’s power to let you go with a dent in your checkbook and a slap on the wrist or to send you to jail. Since jail is not where you want to be, it can be extremely important to speak with a Houston attorney who can explain your current options to you and help you decide what you need to do.
Once You Have Posted a Houston County Bond
Once you have contacted an attorney and taken care of your Harris County bond payment, you will be given a new court date and allowed to leave. At this point you will need to decide your course of action. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a deferred adjudication in your case or could reach an agreement with the court on your behalf in which you are allowed to take a defensive driving course and pay a fine in order to keep the incident from going on your driving record. Your attorney’s goal will be to minimize any future damage to the extent possible. You want to avoid future employment problems as well as insurance hikes and driver’s license points, so allow your attorney to use his or her experience to help you reach those goals. A City of Houston arrest warrant is serious business, however you can keep your future on the right path by make good decisions following your arrest.
