Get Ready for the Great Texas Warrant Roundup of 2014!
Once more it is that time of year across the state of Texas for the Great Texas Warrant Roundup. Now in its eighth year, it is expected that over 300 Texas agencies will participate in the Roundup, including Houston and surrounding areas. Houston officials estimate that in any given month there may be as many as 300,000 outstanding warrants for the city, and the Warrant Roundup provides an avenue of crossing many of those off the books as well as bringing in revenues. During the 2012 Warrant Roundup, over four thousand people were arrested on these outstanding warrants, and over $2.5 million collected.
Of course city officials will be happy if you simply open up your wallet and take care of your outstanding fines, but before you do that you should consider the long-term ramifications. While there has been no announcement regarding the exact dates of the Roundup, the enforcement phase typically begins during the first or second week of March. Prior to the actual enforcement of outstanding warrants, a grace or amnesty period is offered during which fines can be paid and warrants deleted. This period typically last for two to three weeks, and February is just around the corner, so it can be beneficial for you to contact a Houston Warrant Roundup attorney soon.
Pay Your Tickets or Have a Sullo & Sullo Attorney Post a Bond on Your Behalf?
While it may seem expedient to simply pay your past tickets—after all, they are only for minor traffic infractions—this plan can backfire and can cost you much more than you can imagine. First, remember that a traffic ticket is not a debt, even if the City of Houston has sent you what look like collection letters. Until you have appeared in court or sent in your money, a traffic ticket is nothing more than a citation which alleges a criminal violation. You are presumed not guilty and owe nothing until you are convicted. But—here is the issue many people do not understand—when you pay those past tickets, you have effective pled guilty and are now convicted of the crime. For this reason, it may be a much better option to have a Sullo & Sullo Houston traffic ticket lawyer post a bond on your behalf, removing the threat of arrest, and giving you some breathing room to determine what course of action you will take.
What Happens When You Pay Your Past Tickets?
What you must remember is that paying your ticket(s) means you will immediately receive two points for each moving violation on your DPS driving record and three points for an accident violation. Six points on that DPS record during a three year period will require you to pay a surcharge to the state of Texas every year for a minimum of three years. Surcharges begin at $100 per year and can go as high as $1,000 per year. If you pay for four or more moving violations which occurred during a 12-month period, you could find yourself without a driver’s license for as long as a year. If you disregard that suspension and are caught driving, you could be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor and spend up to six months in jail. For most people, the better option in the event of an outstanding warrant is to have your Houston traffic bond lawyer post a bond on your behalf, then negotiate for deferred adjudication or a defensive driving course.
Getting the Help You Need From an Experienced Houston Traffic Ticket Lawyer
If you received your ticket in any of the following jurisdictions, call an experienced Houston Warrant Roundup attorney today.
· 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
Don’t assume that the Great Texas Warrant Roundup of 2014 will not affect you simply because you received your ticket(s) many months ago. Further, if you were set to appear in court to enter your plea and neglected to show up, you could also be facing a Failure to appear charge. If you are tired of past tickets hanging over your head, and want to avoid the embarrassment and inconvenience of a potential arrest, a Houston Warrant Roundup attorney can help. A qualified Houston Warrant Roundup Lawyer can post a bond on your behalf, then work out a solution to the original tickets with a goal of solving your problems in the most expedient, least expensive manner possible.