By Allen, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Kyle T. Therrian
Office Number: (972) 562-7549
24 Hr Jail Release: (214) 403-6522
www.rosenthalwadas.com

The signs are out. The state-wide warrant roundup begins Saturday February 16. According to an entry on the Collin County website, the purpose of the warrant roundup is to collect on hot checks and unpaid misdemeanor fines. Being arrested on hot checks or unpaid fines is a situation which can often be avoided with a little vigilance. Waiting to be picked up on a warrant unexpectedly is a decision which only breeds bigger problems. Here are a few things to be aware of if this article pertains to you.

Where can I check my status? If you know you owe money on a misdemeanor case filed in the justice of the peace court you may check your balance here. If you are curious whether a warrant has been issued for your arrest, you may check here.

An officer is at my house – what is his authority? An officer has the right to go into any home which he has a reasonable belief is the home of the subject of an arrest warrant, so long as he also has a reasonable belief the subject is currently inside the home. If you are the subject of an arrest warrant, you must surrender yourself immediately. If, however, you are not the subject of the officer’s warrant, and he is asking permission to come into your home – you are not required to consent to his entry.

What happens if an officer pulls me over? If an officer learns of an arrest warrant during the course of a traffic stop, he may arrest you on the spot. Some officers may use the existence of an arrest warrant as a launching pad for searching your vehicle. Even if you are the subject of an arrest warrant, you do not have to consent to the search of a vehicle. The officer may find other means by which to search, but he is not entitled to your consent, nor will your consent fix the imminent warrant situation.

Can I give the officer a fake name? NO!!! This is the number one way to make a bad situation worse. In Texas, it is a Class A misdemeanor to fail to identify yourself to an officer as a fugitive from justice. Any person with an active warrant is considered under the law to be a fugitive from justice. There is almost a 100% chance the officer will discover your actual name.

*Kyle Therrian is an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice. For legal advice on any case you should contact an attorney directly.