Getting a ticket can be a confusing and overwhelming situation for any driver, and most are unsure of where to turn or the correct steps to take in order to protect their license, their finances, and their record. When the ticket has been issued though, drivers that have been requested to meet in court are legally obligated to appear on the date that has been specified. If the driver fails to appear, they will immediately be issued a FTA warrant that could result in an arrest the moment that their name is run for any reason. This is why it is necessary for all drivers that have recently been issued an FTA warrant or believe they may be warranted to contact an experienced attorney as quickly as possible to drop these warrants and get their life back in order.
For some of the most typical violations that are received behind the wheel, a driver is required to sign the bottom of the ticket. This signature is not an admittance of guilt, but it is the driver legally agreeing that they will show up to the specified court date. It is essential to understand that not all tickets will need a driver to head to court, and the driver should carefully read all of the paperwork that they receive to ensure that they do not miss their court date if they have been requested to meet before a judge.
If the driver misses their court date for any reason, the judge will right away issue an FTA warrant. This is most common for drivers that have been charged with more severe violations such as reckless driving, DUIs, and hit-and-runs. It is also common for individuals that have received a ticket in another state and either forget to notify the local court or simply ignore the summons.
Once the failure to appear warrant has been issued, drivers will be arrested anytime that their name is run. Even if a driver is pulled over for a violation that they did not commit, the moment that the law enforcement officer inputs their information into the system, they will be legally obligated to arrest the individual and impound their car. These two steps alone could mean thousands of dollars in bail and impound fees.
Once the individual has been taken into custody, they will then be given another court date. In addition to the new summons, many counties will also suspend the driver's license as well as apply fines and fees that could be thousands of dollars in addition to their initial charges.
The moment that any driver is issued an FTA warrant or believes that they may be warranted, they will need the expertise of a local traffic lawyer to clear their name and quickly move on with their life.
Mr. Ticket, traffic ticket attorney can help you if you have a bench warrant. This FTA warrant lawyer has the experience and expertise to help you handle these cases.