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I got pulled over for a traffic violation and was told I have a warrant! What now?

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It can be incredibly upsetting and unnerving to find out you have a warrant out for your arrest. If you are pulled over for speeding, expired tag, or other traffic violations, police officers run your name through a database that will notify them if you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest. This could be a warrant in the same county as your traffic offense, a different county in Georgia, or even a different state. Many times, police officers cannot tell you what crime the warrant alleges you committed and can only see what county or State the warrant is from.

What to do if you are told at a traffic stop that you have an outstanding warrant:

  • Be courteous to the officer
  • Do NOT make any statements about what the warrant is for, if you know, or any specific facts of the incident
  • Remember that everything you say to the officer is ON VIDEO- both from body-worn camera and cameras inside the police car
  • Understand that if the police officer tells you that you have a warrant, you MUST go with the officer. If you refuse, you risk being charged with additional crimes.
  • CONTACT US!

At the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith, our lawyers take pride in advocating for our clients’ constitutional rights, and we detail all options for our clients when defending their case. If you or a loved one has a pending criminal charge, please call our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.

How to Lift a Bench Warrant in Fulton County State Court

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If you miss a court date in Fulton County State Court, the solicitor has the ability to request that a bench warrant be issued, and the judge may grant the request. This means that there is an active warrant for your arrest, and you could be picked up at any time. But we can help you resolve the bench warrant and get your case back on track.

Resolving a bench warrant in Fulton County State Court is typically simple if you have not yet been arrested on the warrant. When you hire our firm, we will go to the clerk’s office and request that the bench warrant be recalled or cancelled. Occasionally, certain judges will assign a cash bond to a bench warrant and, if you have been arrested, you will have to post that cash bond to be released. There are also some judges that require an in-person court appearance to have a bench warrant lifted.

The lawyers at the Law Office of Scott Smith are experienced at handling bench warrants in Fulton County State Court and familiar with the policies and procedures of each court room. If you find your case in bench warrant status, call us today for a free consultation.

I have an FTA in Municipal Court of Atlanta. What do I do?

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If you missed your Court date, you may be concerned about whether or not there are warrants out against you. What you may not know is that an FTA in Municipal Court of Atlanta (hereafter, “MCOA”,) can also result in a license suspension. If you have missed a Court date, you should act swiftly to clear up the FTA. Failing to take action could result in your arrest. So what should you do?

To clear up an FTA in MCOA, you can go to the Courthouse and request a new Court date. The clerk will lift the warrant and place you on an “FTA Calendar.” Note that the license suspension will not be lifted until the Judge approves it at the FTA Calendar. Keep in mind that, until the warrant is lifted, if any officer finds that you have an active warrant, they would have the authority to arrest you. Although you probably do not have to worry about being arrested inside the Courthouse when you go to address your FTA, it is wise to enlist the help of an attorney to go with you or to ask the Court to lift the warrant on your behalf.

Once the warrant is lifted, you are no longer at risk of being arrested for the FTA. However, your license will remain suspended until the Judge releases the suspension. This will not happen until your Court date. In the meantime, continuing to drive on your suspended license puts you at risk. If you are stopped for a traffic offense (speeding, for example,) and the officer determines your license is suspended, not only will you get a speeding ticket, but you will also be charged with Driving on a Suspended License, a misdemeanor which can result in fines, additional jail time, and can suspend your license for six months.

Of course, it can be difficult to go about your daily life with a suspended license. We can help expedite things to get you an earlier Court date so you can get your license back and address the underlying charges. Missing a Court date can be serious, but you don’t have to address it alone. Give us a call. We are within walking distance of Municipal Court of Atlanta and we can walk down to get your FTA lifted same-day. For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call 404581-0999. Written by Attorney Katherine A. Edmonds.