If you have an active warrant, you may have questions about whether or not it can follow you across state lines. Let’s discuss if out-of-state law enforcement will be able to see your warrant, and what could happen if they do.
Reasons You Could Have a Warrant
Did you know that you could have a warrant out for your arrest and not know about it? It is not required that the court notifies an individual once a warrant has been issued.
A warrant may be issued if:
- You missed a court date
- You missed a mandatory probation meeting
- You violated the terms probation
- You are wanted in connection to a crime
Will Warrants Be Seen In Other States?
When you are pulled over by the police, they will request your identification. Then, they will likely run your name through a database that allows them to see any active warrants. If this occurs in a state where you are visiting, they will still be able to see your warrants from your home state.
The next steps will depend on the severity of the offense leading to the warrant.
Extradition After A Warrant Is Discovered
If the active warrant is for a felony offense, the police officers will most likely extradite you back to the state where the warrant was issued. Then, you will be brought into custody and await the next steps for a trial.
You will most likely not be extradited for a misdemeanor offense warrant unless it is a sex offense. Instead, the misdemeanor warrant can usually be handled quickly with the help of a defense attorney.
If the warrant is a bench warrant, you may or may not be extradited and set to appear in front of the judge.
In any case, an out-of-state officer who discovers your warrant has the right to arrest you.
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Florida
If you were recently arrested in Florida after a traffic stop exposed active warrants, contact Hager & Schwartz, P.A. today. We want to help you handle your case so you can get back to business as usual. Call us at (386) 693-1637 to discuss your warrant and situation with our Daytona Beach attorneys.