By Jeff Kennedy
When you violate traffic laws, you get a ticket and an order to appear in a court hearing. These hearings are your opportunity to present your case and let the judicial system hear you out.
Court hearings also ensure the government can enforce any penalties you may receive. If you weren’t able to appear, you might receive a bench warrant. In these instances, you may be wondering what you should do to get a bench warrant lifted and how a reputable criminal defense attorney can help.
What Is a Bench Warrant?
A bench warrant is a warrant for your arrest, issued upon failure to follow a lawful court order. This includes an order to appear in court for a hearing on your traffic tickets.
Arrests are not just limited to crimes and felonies. Even if your violation was not a crime, not appearing for your scheduled court hearing is a crime and will usually lead to the judge issuing a bench warrant.
When the police arrest you after the judge issues a bench warrant, you will be held in jail until your next court hearing is scheduled.
Bench warrants are not just limited to traffic law violators. People who are charged with crimes and are let out on bail but failed to appear at their scheduled court hearing can also be issued bench warrants.
What Should You Do If You Are Issued a Bench Warrant in Texas?
You have multiple options available when you get a bench warrant. First, you can just choose to pay the fine associated with the ticket. However, this is admitting you did commit the traffic violation. Depending on the violation, you could pay a fine, lose your driving privileges, or both. Your record will also reflect your violation, which could make insurance companies charge higher premiums.
You could also choose to just do jail time. Like choosing to pay the fee associated with a ticket, this is also an admission of guilt. For some people, this is the cheapest option, but that’s not always the case. Depending on the nature of the violation, you could also be made to pay fines in addition to other penalties.
Why Do You Need a DWI Lawyer?
If you’ve been caught driving while intoxicated (DWI) and you were issued a bench warrant, there’s another option for you. An experienced DWI lawyer can work to quash a bench warrant and clear it from the court system.
They can do this by appearing in court and resolving your alleged violation on your behalf. Once this is done, you no longer have to deal with police looking to arrest you. However, the quashal must be done before the warrant is executed. This means before police seek you out for arrest, you should get your lawyer to quash your bench warrant.
Contact a Lawyer Today
When it comes to bench warrants in Texas, the earlier you have a lawyer on your side, the better. There’s no need to be arrested and jailed, especially when you have valid defenses for your non-appearance.
At The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy, we understand the urgency of bench warrants. Call us now at 817-605-1010 or fill out the form below for a free strategy session!
