Judges in California issue bench warrants when someone fails to adhere to a court regulation. For example, a bench warrant could be issued if you fail to appear in court when so ordered, or if you violate orders issued by a judge. Sometimes, bench warrants are issued for individuals charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
Many drivers are unsure exactly what happens after a bench warrant is issued. You may wonder if the police can look for you on a bench warrant for a DUI. Find out how DUI bench warrants are treated with the Simmrin Law Group and call (310) 896-2723 if you have a bench warrant in your name.
Bench Warrants and DUI Charges in California
Before we discuss the treatment of a bench warrant, we should consider when bench warrants are issued in DUI cases. Bench warrants for DUI charges are commonly ordered if a driver fails to appear at their DUI hearing after an arrest.
Police officers are legally supposed to look for drivers with a bench warrant for a DUI. However, not all DUI bench warrants are treated the same way. You may face different levels of concern if you fail to appear:
- After being ordered to do so by the court
- After being released on bail after a DUI arrest
We’ll consider how police officers handle bench warrants in the above cases now. You can also get prompt help to handle a bench warrant by calling a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles at (310) 896-2723.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
Bench Warrant for Failing to Appear in Court
In some cases, drivers are released without bail in DUI cases and ordered to return to court for their hearing. Failure to return to court in this situation will result in a bench warrant. However, limited available resources mean that the police officers may not physically look for you in this situation.
Your warrant will be entered into your record, instead. If you are stopped for another traffic violation, the warrant will appear. At this point, you can be arrested for the warrant and brought before a judge in California.
Note that there is no guarantee that a police officer will not come to your home or place of business to serve a bench warrant. Legally, you can be arrested for failure to appear in this situation.
Bench Warrants and Bail Payments for a DUI
Law enforcement officers in California are more likely to proactively work to serve a bench warrant if you were:
- Arrested for a DUI
- Released on bail AND
- You failed to return for your hearing
In this situation, police officers are more likely to look for you on a bench warrant for a DUI. They may visit your home or workplace. Generally, bench warrants are only served in the daytime for misdemeanor offenses. However, your bench warrant may be served at any time of the day if:
- You were charged with a felony
- You have multiple warrants in your name
- You have a history of disobeying the court
Any bench warrant can lead to an arrest if you are stopped for a traffic violation. All bench warrants issued in California will appear on your record if you are stopped by a police officer.
Get Help If You Have a Bench Warrant for a DUI
You should take any bench warrant in your name seriously. A bench warrant for a DUI can lead to an immediate arrest if you are stopped by a police officer. Judges throughout the state may be harsher in their judgment if you have an open warrant out for your arrest and you are accused of an additional crime.
Fortunately, you can get professional help quickly by reaching out to the Simmrin Law Group. Our DUI lawyers in Los Angeles can help you handle a bench warrant. We may be able to resolve the warrant for you in some circumstances. In other cases, you will need to go to court with your lawyer to handle your warrant.
You can improve your odds of successfully getting a bench warrant for a DUI dismissed if you work with a team of legal professionals today.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Speak to a Lawyer About a DUI Bench Warrant in California
Police officers are legally supposed to look for you on a bench warrant for a DUI in California, however, they may not proactively search for you. In either case, the warrant will show up on your record and can lead to an arrest if you are stopped by a police officer. Take steps to handle any warrant quickly by contacting the Simmrin Law Group today. Just complete our online contact form or call (310) 896-2723.
Speak to a DUI lawyer in Los Angeles to review your situation with a FREE initial case evaluation.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form