Last Updated on June 8, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Clearing Warrants in McKinney Municipal Court: How Attorneys Protect Your Record
Attorney For Warrants In McKinney
The Beltz Law Group: Experienced Legal Help for Traffic Warrants in McKinney
Do you have an outstanding warrant from McKinney Municipal Court? Don’t risk arrest or a damaged record. Contact us today: 214-321-4105
Discovering you have an outstanding warrant for a traffic ticket or other Class C misdemeanor in McKinney Municipal Court can be an unsettling experience. The threat of arrest, combined with the potential for serious long-term consequences on your criminal history and driving record, makes resolving these warrants a priority. However, how you resolve them is crucial. At The Beltz Law Group, we understand the intricacies of McKinney Municipal Court procedures and are dedicated to lifting warrants effectively while protecting your future.
How Warrants Are Issued in McKinney Municipal Court
Warrants in McKinney are generally issued in one of two ways, and understanding the distinction is key to a proper defense:
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Alias Warrants (Failure to Appear): This is the most common type of warrant for traffic tickets. An Alias Warrant is issued when you receive a citation and fail to take any action by the appearance date listed on the ticket. This includes forgetting about the ticket, misplacing it, or simply deciding not to appear or respond to the court. When you “fail to appear,” the court can issue an Alias Warrant for your arrest. In some cases, a separate Class C misdemeanor charge of “Failure to Appear” (FTA) or “Violating Promise to Appear” (VPTA) may also be filed, adding to your legal woes.
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Capias Pro Fine Warrants (Failure to Comply): A Capias Pro Fine Warrant is issued after a judgment of guilt has been entered in your case, and you have subsequently failed to comply with a court order. This typically happens in situations where:
- You were granted a payment plan but defaulted on the payments.
- You were ordered to complete a Driving Safety Course or community service but failed to provide proof of completion.
- You otherwise failed to adhere to the terms of a court-ordered disposition.
McKinney Ticket Defense Lawyer
The critical distinction with a Capias Pro Fine warrant is that a judgment of guilt (or a plea of guilty/no contest) has already been established. According to Article 27.14(c) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, when a fine is paid or an amount is accepted by the court for a fine-only misdemeanor, it “constitutes a finding of guilty in open court as though a plea of nolo contendere had been entered by the defendant.” This means that once a Capias Pro Fine warrant is issued, the underlying case is generally already a conviction on your record, and an attorney’s ability to “defend” the original charge is limited. The focus shifts to avoiding jail time and managing the fine.
What an Attorney Does to Remove Warrants and Protect Your Record
The good news is that if you have an Alias Warrant, The Beltz Law Group can intervene effectively to lift the warrant and work to protect your criminal history and driving record. Here’s our process:
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Rapid Warrant Removal: Our first priority is to get the Alias Warrant lifted immediately to remove the threat of arrest. We do this by filing an attorney bond (or surety bond) with McKinney Municipal Court on your behalf. This bond is a formal guarantee to the court that our firm will ensure your appearance at all future court dates. Once the bond is filed, the court recalls the warrant, and you are no longer subject to arrest for that specific ticket. In most cases, this can be accomplished within a few business days.
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Formal Appearance and “Not Guilty” Plea: Upon filing the bond, our attorney formally enters an appearance and a plea of “Not Guilty” for the underlying offense. This is a critical step because it preserves all of your legal rights and ensures that the case remains open for negotiation, rather than automatically becoming a conviction.
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Strategic Defense to Protect Your Record: Unlike simply paying the fine (which, under Article 27.14(c), acts as an admission of guilt and a conviction), retaining an attorney allows us to actively fight for your record. Our primary goal is to prevent the ticket from appearing as a conviction on your permanent driving record. We achieve this by:
- Negotiating with the Prosecutor: We will engage in negotiations with the City of McKinney prosecutor to explore options such as Deferred Disposition. This is a probationary period where, if you meet certain conditions (like avoiding new violations), the case is ultimately dismissed and removed from your record.
- Exploring Dismissal Opportunities: We’ll review the case for any procedural errors or weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence that could lead to an outright dismissal.
- Court Representation: In most cases, once we have lifted the warrants and entered our appearance, you will not need to appear in court for the initial settings. We handle the negotiations and court appearances on your behalf, saving you time and stress.
The Critical Difference: Attorney vs. Self-Payment
McKinney Speeding Ticket Attorney
Many people are tempted to simply pay the fine for an old ticket with a warrant. However, as explained with Capias Pro Fine warrants and Article 27.14(c), paying the fine for a warrant often results in an automatic conviction being reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). This can lead to:
- Increased auto insurance premiums for years.
- Potential driver’s license suspension if you accumulate too many moving violations.
By hiring The Beltz Law Group, you gain a legal advocate who works to prevent these negative consequences by pursuing non-conviction outcomes. Our fees are almost always significantly less than the long-term financial burden of increased insurance rates and potential license reinstatement fees that come with a conviction.
Don’t let outstanding warrants in McKinney Municipal Court haunt you. Protect your criminal history, driving record, and financial well-being.
Contact The Beltz Law Group today for a confidential consultation to discuss your McKinney warrants and how we can help you resolve them effectively.
