will traffic ticket warrant affect gettin chl

[gsxrchris]

i think i have a traffic ticket i havent paid in some small town from when i was 18 about 8 yrs ago will this affect me if its a warrant?

[lawrnk]

I would be surprised if it did, but that is a uninformed guess.

[jbirds1210]

I would be surprised if it did not have a negative effect. Having a warrant for your arrest is something I would take care of ASAP and get proper documentation to carry in your glove box!

[Crossfire]

A warrant for a traffic ticket (other than a Class B or greater DUI) will NOT keep you from getting a CHL.

However, it will alert the issuing law enforcement agency of your whereabouts, and they might want to come visit with you about it.

Bottom line is, get the info from the issuing agency and take care of it. Then you have nothing more to worry about.

[sylus27]

I have a similar question. If you were arrested for a traffic warrant (initial ticket for no seat belt) would that cause your application to be denied?

I got the initial ticket in '97 or '98 and eventually it slipped my mind - I was picked up for it a few months ago. I've lurked here for a while and enjoy the info. Thanks in advance!

[seamusTX]

If you were arrested for a traffic warrant (initial ticket for no seat belt) would that cause your application to be denied?

No arrest or class C conviction (traffic ticket) will cause your application to be denied.

You have to put all arrests that involve fingerprinting and photographing (that is, being booked) on your application, and obtain a disposition.

- Jim

[sylus27]

Thanks Jim!

[BiGTXReBel]

I wanna get my CHL but i got 2 tickets about 3 months or so ago one for Expired Inspection and one for Expired Registration. Now I went to take care of these tickets before they went to warrant and I was expecting to spend about $600 at the most for these offenses. The woman behind the counter says it will be $979.83 and I about hit the floor cuz my knees got week!!!! So as you can probably tell I dont have that kind of money sitting around and I think that that amount is robbery but that aside needless to say I have a warrant for my arrest in that city I guess. My question is I know already that they know where to find me they have my address and telephone # but will these warrants cause my application to be denied if i try and apply?? Input from anyone who REALLY knows would be great!!!! By the way im no criminal there are perfectly good explanations or reason why my stickers on my vehicle were not current. Just had to throw that last bit in.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

An expired inspection and registration can be remedied simply by getting an inspection and registration renewal before your court date. If you do that you usually only have to pay court costs, maybe $60. I paid $10 for an expired inspection simply by getting my truck inspected and showing up to the courthouse with the corrosponding documents. Get the inspection ($40) and registration ($65-80) up to date, then go back to the court clerk with all the paper work, it should be an easy issue to take care of.

[BiGTXReBel]

I got the inspection already done but there are some circumstances that I couldnt help that prevented me from getting registration but anyway i missed the deadline so i have to pay full cost of tickets which is 9 something but what i wanna know is can i get a CHL with those tickets in warrant status they are non moving violations and overall just a traffic ticket?? Lemme know...

[Crossfire]

You should be able to work out a payment plan for your tickets so that you can clear the warrant. Agencies understand that people don't have that kind of money laying around, and they would rather get SOMETHING from you than nothing. So, call 'em up and see what they will work out with you. If they won't help you, then get an attorney who handles traffic violations. My son got into a similar situation with city of Dallas. The attorney fee was less than the ticket, and he got the fine reduced to a manageable amount, and he got to sleep again.

[gregthehand]

Also it's not the best alternative but if you are really strapped for cash a lot of municipalities and counties will let you sit out tickets in their jail. College students often do this and bring in books to study. It's all up to the local court but many will let you have this option. Many will also let you do so on a weekend so as not to interfere with work.

[joe817]

Another option(and this is the option I used) is to go before the judge and ask if you can work off the fine by doing community service work in lieu of paying money. I had the exact same 'offenses' as you had BiGTXReBel: expired inspection, expired registration. I also had inoperable stop light(bulb burned out). Those 3 went to warrant. I set a court date, went before a judge, and pled my case. I was given 96 hours of community service, BUT I didn't have to pay the $956.00 in fines those 3 'offenses' had accumulated.

[Griz44]

In some areas, that Class C ticket will become a Class B if it goes to warrant. The failure to appear can be charged as an obstruction of justice, a Class B. Being a fugitive from a class B will make you a fugitive from justice. It will keep yopur application from going through.

[JNMAR]

Wow, those numbers makes the $14.50 for an inspection sticker today and $61.50 for registration yesterday better than the blue light special for not doing it...