Having an arrest warrant out for you means that Huntsville police or other law enforcement agent could arrest you at any time, whether you're wanted for murder or skipped a court date after being pulled over for going one mile over the speed limit.
Arrest warrants don't go away by themselves. Until resolved, you will not be able to go out in public without worrying about being arrested. If you'll pulled over for rolling through a stop sign or failing to use your blinker, it could mean a night in jail. Even without being arrested, there could be consequences: Failing to appear (FTA) in court for a traffic citation could result in your license being suspended.
Put an end to the misery and the constant anxiety. A qualified Alabama criminal defense attorney can help you resolve your warrants, giving you some peace of mind and helping you move on with your life. If your circumstances are right, you may never see the inside of a jail cell. Ignore your warrants, and you most likely will.
Huntsville Arrest Warrant Lawyer
At Law Offices Of Segal & Segal, our legal team is experienced in the criminal justice process, and know its workings inside and out. Our attorneys both have experience as prosecutors — Andrew Segal for the Madison County District Attorney and Alabama Attorney General, and Sandra Segal for the Huntsville City Attorney — and we'll put that knowledge and experience to work for you. We can help you deal with your warrants, whether it's clearing procedural matters or defending you against criminal charges.
Don't spend another moment of your life in fear of being put in jail at any moment. Call (256) 533-4529 or send an online message for our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Law Offices Of Segal & Segal to set up a free consultation to discuss your warrants.
We are proud to serve clients with warrants throughout the Huntsville-Decatur area, including anywhere in Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Limestone or Jackson County. Call us today so we can help you.
Overview on Warrants in Alabama
- Types of Criminal Warrants
- Consequences of Warrants in Madison County
- Helping Our Neighbors Overcome Alabama Arrest Warrants
Types of Criminal Warrants
When you're pulled over for any traffic violation in Alabama, you are given a citation for a date to appear in court. The date is not your trial. It is simply your arraignment, when you are to offer your plea. If you chose to plead guilty and pay the ticket, you are supposed to do it by this date. You could also plead not guilty and fight the citation.
However, many people miss this court date. Sometimes, they forget. Sometimes, they intend to go to the court but can't get off work or have an emergency situation arise. Sometimes, they believe they will face a trial and aren't prepared or can't pay the fine, and they hope by avoiding it, it might go away. If you submit payment and it is declined, there may also be a warrant out.
When you don't show up at court, the judge issues a warrant for your arrest, frequently called a “failure to appear.” The warrant is listed in a database, and police can take you into custody wherever they find you.
While most common for traffic violations, a warrant may be issued for your arrest any time you miss a court proceeding. You may or may not receive notice that there is a warrant out of your arrest.
A failure to appear is not the only type of warrant in Madison County. If a grand jury returns an indictment against you, a warrant for your arrest will be issued. This is an order for officers to arrest you, wherever you may be. They may come to your home or work to take you into custody.
Additionally, there are search warrants. A search warrant is an order by a judge giving law enforcement officers permission to search your home or other premises. If there is a search warrant issued for your private property, it does not mean you are under arrest, but it does mean there is a strong possibility you are being investigated and may be under arrest soon. It may be advisable to seek a Huntsville defense attorney now.
Consequences of Warrants in Madison County
The most clear consequence of having an active warrant for your arrest is that you live life worried that you could face arrest at any time. Even if you're a perfect driver, you could be involved in an accident because of someone else's mistake. A warrant is an order from a judge to take you into custody. That means that police officers don't get to make judgment calls — if they see you have a warrant, they must take you in.
If you are in the midst of any criminal procedure where you've posted bond, you may automatically lose that bond. Additionally, if arrested, you may now have to deal with the separate offense and separate bond for Failure to Appear.
Additionally, if you failed to appear for a court proceeding, the Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) may suspend your driver's license without telling you, which could lead to yet another driving offense and more expenses. It's simply too costly to ignore your warrants.
A criminal defense lawyer could help you handle those warrants. A lawyer could make any of the necessary inquiries and may be able to file a motion to have the warrant withdrawn and appear on your behalf, so you don't have to fear being arrested.
An attorney may make a motion or request the court set aside the warrant on your behalf. If your warrant is withdrawn, you and your attorney can just deal with the original charge. If it's a felony warrant, a lawyer can argue why you shouldn't be treated in the most harsh way.
Helping Our Neighbors Overcome Alabama Arrest Warrants
If there's a warrant out for your arrest, or you think there might be one, stop hiding. Call our Huntsville criminal defense attorneys to obtain help with your warrant or failure to appear charge. Call (256) 533-4529 or send an online message, and set up a free consultation to discuss your active warrant.
