How To Remove Warrants For Traffic Tickets The Proper Way In Texas

Clearing Old Traffic Warrants in North Texas: Your Guide to Protecting Your Record and Rights

Warrants Lifted in North Texas

Have you recently discovered you have an outstanding warrant for an old traffic ticket in a North Texas municipal or Justice of the Peace court? The thought of a warrant can be unsettling, but it’s crucial to understand your options and, more importantly, to avoid common pitfalls that can severely impact your driving record, insurance rates, and even future employment.At The Beltz Law Group, we frequently help individuals who, through no fault of their own, have compounded their problems by unknowingly choosing the wrong path to resolve a warrant. This guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and resolve your traffic ticket warrants the right way.

How Does a Traffic Ticket Turn into a Warrant?

Understanding the process can help prevent future issues. Typically, a warrant is issued after a specific “appearance date” on your traffic citation has passed without any action from your end. Most North Texas cities and counties grant you about 10-14 days to contact the court regarding your ticket.

If no appearance or communication is made by that deadline, the court can then place your case in a “warrant queue” for judicial review. Once a judge verifies all necessary documentation, they can sign off on an arrest warrant. This means a seemingly minor traffic ticket can escalate to warrant status surprisingly quickly – sometimes as soon as a couple of weeks after the initial citation.

Resolving a Warrant: The Good, The Bad, and The Costly

When it comes to addressing an outstanding warrant, not all solutions are created equal. Some methods, while seemingly convenient, can have detrimental long-term consequences.

Warrants Lifted

The “Toxic” Options (Avoid if Possible):

• Doing Jail Time for Credit: While it might seem like a “cheap” way to clear a debt, doing jail time for credit on a traffic ticket is considered a conviction in the eyes of the law. This can trigger:
  • Significant Penalties: While the state surcharge program no longer exists, convictions are still reported to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and can lead to increased insurance premiums, potential driver’s license suspension for certain offenses (such as multiple moving violations or specific serious infractions), and other negative impacts on your driving privileges.
  • Driver’s License Suspension: Certain convictions or an accumulation of convictions can still lead to the suspension of your driver’s license.
  • Permanent Record Impact: A conviction becomes part of your permanent driving record, affecting future opportunities, including employment and insurance rates.
• “Just Paying Off” the Warrant at the Court Window: This is arguably the most common and damaging mistake people make. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 27.14 explicitly states that “payment of a fine or an amount accepted by the court constitutes a finding of guilty in open court… and constitutes a waiver of a jury trial in writing.”
  • Automatic Conviction: Paying the ticket directly means you are pleading guilty or no contest. This automatically results in a conviction being reported to DPS, leading to potential license suspensions, increased insurance premiums, and record damage.
  • No Negotiation: You lose any opportunity to negotiate for an outcome that protects your record.
• 

  Warrants Lifted

  Posting a Cash Bond and Requesting a Court Date: While this option does get the warrant lifted, it comes with significant drawbacks:

  • High Upfront Cost: You must post the full amount of the fine as security, which can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars per case.
  • Money Held by the Court: This money is held by the court and can become forfeited if you miss your new court date, leading to the cases going back into warrant status without resolution.
  • Limited Negotiation Power: While you get a court date, prosecutors are often less inclined to offer favorable deals when the court already has your money.

 The Best Way to Resolve a Warrant: Hire an Experienced Attorney

For comprehensive protection of your criminal history, driving record, insurance rates, and driving privileges, hiring a qualified attorney is hands-down the superior choice. Here’s why:

• Cost-Effective Warrant Removal: An attorney can typically be retained for a fee substantially less than the total amount of the ticket or the cash bond required by the court (often $100-$150 per ticket versus $300-$700+ cash bond). This makes immediate warrant resolution more accessible.
• Appearance Bond for Immediate Warrant Lifting: Your attorney will post an “appearance bond” with the court. This crucial step immediately and safely lifts the warrant without you having to appear in court or risk arrest. It’s a legal guarantee that your attorney will handle all necessary court appearances on your behalf.
• Strategic Court Representation: Once the warrant is lifted, your attorney will appear in court for you. Their primary goal is to resolve your cases in a way that prevents the violations from being reported to DPS as convictions. While not every case will be dismissed, your attorney can pursue options like:
  • Deferred Disposition (Probation): Allows for dismissal of the ticket if you meet certain conditions (e.g., no new tickets for a period).
  • Defensive Driving: Completing a defensive driving course can lead to dismissal for certain offenses.
  • Plea Bargains: Negotiating a reduced charge or an outcome that keeps the offense off your record.
• Significant Long-Term Savings: Investing in an attorney to prevent a conviction can save you thousands of dollars in potential increased insurance premiums over the years and avoid other negative consequences of a conviction on your driving record.
• Identification of Legal Deficiencies: An experienced attorney can identify legal insufficiencies in the original citation or court process that could lead to a dismissal of your case – something you likely wouldn’t discover or be offered on your own.
• Expert Guidance and Education: By hiring our firm, you gain a trusted resource. We empower our clients by providing clear explanations of the legal process, answering your questions, and keeping you informed every step of the way. You’ll be educated on the Texas legal system, ensuring you make informed decisions.

Lawyer For Warrants

Don’t Let an Old Ticket Haunt Your Future

The landscape of traffic tickets and warrants in Texas has evolved. What might have been a simple fine in the past can now lead to cascading financial and legal problems if not handled correctly. Don’t fall for the fear tactics of warrant roundups that encourage quick fixes at your long-term expense.

If you have outstanding traffic ticket warrants in North Texas, contact The Beltz Law Group today. Let us help you navigate the system, protect your record, and resolve your cases the right way.