Last Updated on June 6, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Dallas Traffic Ticket Gone to Warrant? Here’s How it Happens and How We Can Help.
Dallas Ticket Defense Lawyer
Expert Warrant & Driver’s License Hold Resolution in Dallas. Call The Beltz Law Group Today: 214-321-4105
Receiving a traffic ticket can be stressful enough, but discovering that your ticket has gone into warrant status is a whole new level of concern. This typically happens when you’ve missed your required appearance date in court. Understanding the process of how a ticket leads to a warrant in Dallas Municipal Court is the first step toward resolving the issue.
At The Beltz Law Group, we specialize in helping individuals clear warrants and remove driver’s license holds for old traffic tickets, providing peace of mind and protecting your driving privileges.
How a Dallas Traffic Ticket Leads to a Warrant: The Missed Appearance Date
Every traffic ticket issued in Dallas, like most jurisdictions, comes with an appearance date. This is the deadline by which you must take action on your citation – whether that’s entering a plea, paying the fine, requesting a defensive driving course, or scheduling a court date.
In Dallas Municipal Court, if you fail to take any action by your assigned appearance date, your ticket becomes eligible for a warrant. Specifically:
- 21 Days Minimum: Generally, if at least 21 days have passed since the ticket was issued and you have not made an appearance or otherwise resolved the citation, your case is considered delinquent.
- Review by a Judge: After the appearance date passes, the citation is then eligible to be reviewed by a judge. The judge will determine if there’s probable cause to believe you violated your promise to appear, and if so, an arrest warrant will be issued. This transforms a simple traffic citation into an active criminal matter.
Dallas Ticket Defense Attorney
The Consequences of an Active Warrant: More Than Just a Fine
Once a warrant is issued, the implications extend beyond the original ticket:
- Arrest Risk: The most immediate and serious consequence is the risk of arrest. You could be pulled over for any minor traffic infraction, or even during a routine stop, and be taken to jail due to the active warrant.
- Failure to Appear (FTA) Charge: In addition to the original offense, a separate Class C misdemeanor charge for “Failure to Appear” is often added. This means you now have two criminal cases instead of one, and the FTA carries its own separate fines and court costs.
- OMNI Base Program (Driver’s License Hold): When a warrant is issued for a traffic offense, the court will typically report your case to the statewide OMNI Base Program (also known as the Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay program). This places a hold on your driver’s license renewal. You will be unable to renew your Texas driver’s license until the reported violation is resolved with the reporting court and the OMNI Base hold is cleared. While it doesn’t immediately suspend your existing valid license, it prevents future renewal, effectively making your license invalid once it expires.
How The Beltz Law Group Can Help You Clear Warrants and License Holds
Discovering you have an active warrant or a hold on your driver’s license can be alarming. However, you don’t have to face it alone. The experienced attorneys at The Beltz Law Group specialize in resolving these complex issues in Dallas Municipal Court.
Dallas Ticket Attorney For Warrants
Our services include:
- Prompt Warrant Lifts: Our first priority is to get your outstanding warrants lifted quickly and efficiently, typically within a few business days of being retained. This immediately removes the threat of arrest.
- Removal of OMNI Base Holds: Once the underlying citation and the FTA charge are being addressed, we work directly with the Dallas Municipal Court to ensure the OMNI Base hold is removed from your driver’s license record, allowing you to renew your license.
- Resolution of Underlying Citations: After the warrants are lifted, we turn our focus to resolving your original traffic ticket(s) and the Failure to Appear charge. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome, which often includes:
- Dismissal: For some cases, we may be able to secure an outright dismissal of the charges.
- Deferred Disposition: This allows the ticket to be dismissed and kept off your driving record after a probationary period, provided you meet certain conditions.
- Negotiated Settlements: We negotiate with the prosecutor to find a favorable resolution that minimizes fines and protects your driving record.
- Court Representation: In most instances, you will not need to appear in court. Our attorneys handle all necessary court appearances on your behalf, saving you time, stress, and the inconvenience of taking time off work.
Don’t let an old ticket and a missed court date lead to an arrest or keep you from renewing your driver’s license. Proactive legal action is key to resolving these issues effectively.
If you have an outstanding warrant or a driver’s license hold due to an old traffic ticket in Dallas Municipal Court, contact The Beltz Law Group today for expert legal assistance. Let us help you clear your record and get back on track.
