Florida Arrest Warrants

Many people throughout Florida go about their day without realizing that there may be a warrant for their arrest, especially when the reason for the warrant relates to a misdemeanor traffic violation or failure to appear in court. When an arrest warrant relates to what many would consider a minor crime, it is painful to see how severe the consequences can be. For example, if a warrant was issued for your arrest for failure to appear in court concerning a speeding ticket, you may find yourself being arrested the next time you are pulled over, which creates a whole host of new problems.

Rather than finding yourself with handcuffs on the side of the road, it is better to confront an arrest warrant proactively with the help of a qualified Florida Criminal Defense Attorney. With the assistance of an attorney, you may be able to avoid the inevitable walk of shame to the back of a police cruiser, or the dreaded mug shot that comes along with being arrested and booked into jail. Because an arrest warrant and eventual arrest can blemish your criminal record, it is crucial to speak with an attorney the second you learn there may be a warrant for your arrest.

Different Types of Arrest Warrants in Florida

An arrest warrant is an order issued by a judge or prosecutor to bring a person into jail or the courtroom to appear regarding a legal matter. While a person who allegedly commits a serious violent crime and evades police should expect to have a warrant issued for his or her arrests, many people who forget to pay a fine or forget to appear in court may be shocked to find out there is a warrant out for their arrest.

Arrest warrants can be further broken down into the following general types:

• Arrest warrant issued for probable cause that a person committed a crime by either a County prosecutor or the State Attorney’s Office;
• Arrest warrant issued for a probation violation;
• Bench warrant issued by a judge for failure to appear (FTA) in court, also known as “capias”;
• Pick Up Order (PUO) warrant to take a juvenile into custody; and
• Out-of-state warrant (aka “fugitive from justice” warrant).

Regardless of the type of warrant issued, the consequences of failing to address the warrant immediately can be severe and long-lasting.

Understanding the Severity of an Outstanding Florida Arrest Warrant

At Musca Law, we represent numerous clients in Florida who have faced potentially costly arrest warrants. Depending on a client’s unique circumstances, our Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys can take steps to get ahead of the arrest warrant. For example, if a client is facing an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court, our attorneys may seek to file a motion to withdraw the warrant or a motion to surrender to the warrant in court. Regardless of what option may be available in your situation, it is much better to face an arrest warrant BEFORE getting pulled over and handcuffed for an unrelated criminal matter.

How Musca Law Can Help You

If you have a warrant out for your arrest or suspect there may be a warrant out for your arrest, time is of the essence to speak with the Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys of Musca Law. Our legal team will immediately investigate your situation to determine the following:

• Whether there is a valid Florida warrant issued for your arrest;
• The nature of the arrest warrant – i.e., the nature of the underlying crime that led to the arrest warrant;
• Whether the warrant has bond attached to it or whether the warrant is a “no bond” warrant;
• Whether filing a motion in court will help your situation; and
• Whether it is in your best interest to surrender yourself at the jail or in court upon motion alongside your attorney.

Criminal matters can be confusing and stressful. As such, it is crucial to choose an attorney who is well-versed in all aspects of Florida criminal law. Musca Law certainly has the prerequisites to defend your legal rights as you move forward through a difficult time.

An Important Note About Getting Pulled Over with a Warrant – The Compulsory Search Incident to Arrest

While failing to pay a speeding ticket may seem like a minor occurrence, being pulled over to find out there is a warrant for your arrest can open an entirely new criminal doorway. What many people may not realize is that if you are pulled over for a traffic violation, such as speeding, failing to yield, or running a stop sign, and a warrant is out for your arrest, the police officer has the power to search you.

If you happen to have a small amount of marijuana on your person, and the officer discovers the marijuana while searching you (such as in your pocket), you are now facing a potential drug charge. When the reason for your arrest warrant is a failure to appear in court or failure to pay a fine, the realization that you are now facing serious criminal charges can be devastating, especially if you are an otherwise law-abiding citizen.

As such, failing to pay a ticket or appear in court can create a domino effect where you are in legal jeopardy until you can address the arrest warrant. While the best solution would be to avoid an arrest warrant in the first place, doing damage control by taking the arrest warrant head-on before being arrested is the best option when seeking a positive outcome.

At Musca Law, we have seen it all. We help clients who are facing varying degrees of criminal offenses, with some being much more severe than others. No criminal matter is too complicated for our legal team. We ensure our clients are fully aware of their legal rights and obligations, and that they understand all potential consequences and outcomes when facing criminal charges. Act quickly to address your outstanding warrant before you find yourself facing serious criminal charges. Contact us today at (888) 484-5057 to learn more about your legal rights and options.