5 Inconvenient Things about Life with an Arrest Warrant
In California, a warrant for your arrest can limit your freedom. You can lose your ability to travel by plane, drive a car, or collect from a government assistance program. This can keep you from going to work or school, applying for a job, or even just carrying out your daily life. Whether the warrant is for a misdemeanor or a felony, a bench warrant for a probation violation, or a warrant for failure to appear, if you have an arrest warrant issued against you, you should consult with an experienced felony defense attorney to help you get the warrant resolved.
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Going to Public Places Can Lead to Your Arrest
With an arrest warrant, the police can arrest you any time they find you in public, no matter the time of day. If you go to work or school, or even out to dinner or a movie, an officer who sees and knows of the warrant for your arrest can detain you on the spot. Officers do not need to have a copy of the warrant to make the arrest. They need only show that they had been informed about its existence.
With a misdemeanor, you can only be arrested between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm unless you are in public, you are already in police custody on another matter, or if the judge has ordered that the arrest can be executed at any time. On a felony arrest warrant, you can be arrested at any time and any place.
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Flying Is Likely to Lead to Your Arrest
Security protocols at all U.S. airports include checking databases for passenger information, including criminal history. If you have an outstanding arrest warrant, your name will likely be flagged, and you will not be able to pass through the security checkpoint. If the arrest warrant is discovered while you are attempting to travel by plane, you could be arrested at the airport.
If you know you have an arrest warrant and need to travel soon, you should not hesitate to discuss the warrant with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney before you book your flight.
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You Cannot Drive with an Arrest Warrant
Upon issuing an arrest warrant, the court will notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend your driver’s license. Your license will remain suspended until the warrant is cleared and the DMV is notified.
Imagine how dramatically your life could change if you are arrested for driving without a license. You could be on your way to work, school, or even to the grocery store, and you could be pulled over for speeding. When the officer checks your license, the warrant and the suspension of your license will be found. Not only will you be arrested for the warrant, but you will also be charged with the separate charge of driving on a suspended license.
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Military Bases Are Off-Limits
If your job depends on your access to military or other government property, you should seek the help of an experienced felony defense attorney to help you clear the arrest warrant. Whether you are a civilian or active duty military, U.S. military bases have strict security controls. If you already have a pass to enter a base, such as those given to civilian contractors who work with the armed forces, any outstanding arrest warrant can result in your clearance being revoked. If you have applied for access, your application will be denied if the arrest warrant is discovered.
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No More Government Benefits
Under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code section 11486.5, a person who is fleeing from felony prosecution is ineligible from receiving aid from government assistance programs, such as welfare aid under the CalWORKS. If the crime for which the arrest warrant is issued is one that can be punished by imprisonment or the death penalty, the Social Security Administration can also suspend your benefits.
Contact the Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich For Help With Your Arrest Warrant
If you have an outstanding arrest warrant for an alleged crime, or for a failure to appear in court, your freedom is at stake, and your daily life will be severely impacted. You should not hesitate to contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to help you make a decision about the best way to resolve the arrest warrant. That is why you should speak with the experienced Orange County felony probation attorneys of Wallin & Klarich. We have more than 40 years of experience in successfully helping people get through an arrest warrant, including resolving warrants for failing to appear in court. Let us help you today.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, West Covina, Torrance, and Victorville, there is an experienced and skilled Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney available to help you no matter where you are located.
Contact our offices today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free, no-obligation phone consultation. We will get through this together.
