Warrants are a very hazy subject for many people and most of the things we know about them come from hearsay. But everyone should know what warrants are and how they work, so they don’t form misconceptions about them. Some people may think that certain types of warrants are illegal when they aren’t. Or they may not realize when a warrant is required for police officers to perform certain actions. Let’s take a look at some of the most persuasive myths about warrants and the truth behind them.
No Knock Warrants are Illegal
No knock warrants are controversial and might seem illegal. but they aren’t. They are often used in drug cases as going through the usual procedure of visiting during certain hours and announcing your presence as an officer could affect the case. Criminals may start hiding evidence, for instance, or be braced for a confrontation.
There are many cases, however, where people’s rights are violated during those cases. Or, officers go to the wrong address and cause the inhabitants emotional distress. In these cases, victims should seek legal help from a team that is specialized in no-knock warrant incidents. One firm known for prosecuting no-knock warrants is Romanucci and Blandin, which served as co-representatives on the Amir Locke case. Very few firms have this type of expertise in the country, so make sure that you check their track record and see what types of judgments and settlements they were able to get.
If I got a Warrant in a Different City, then it can’t be Executed
If you get a warrant in any city in your state, it will get executed even if it’s not the city where you live. So, if you’re in Fresno California, it doesn’t matter if your warrant was issued in LA or San Diego. You can expect officers to come knocking at your door.
Don’t think you can hide from a warrant either. Marshals are well trained to find warrant dodgers. They have a wealth of information at their fingertips and can use databases to help locate people with warrants fast. If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, we suggest that you do the right thing and turn yourself in. It will take away the stress of knowing that US marshals might be at your door soon and avoid confrontation.
Warrants Have a One Year Expiration Date
This is one of the strangest myths about warrants. We don’t know where this myth came from or the logic behind it, but warrants don’t just disappear. Even if you had a minor citation for mowing your lawn 12 years ago, there is still a chance that there’s a warrant out for you if you didn’t take care of it, so beware.
I can’t Get Arrested for a Traffic Citation
While it’s true that simply getting a traffic citation will not get you arrested, you do have to follow through on the citation’s instructions. Failure to pay or appear in court could result in a warrant for your arrest being executed.
These are all myths about warrants that you have to forget right away. This will allow you to avoid serious mistakes and get in trouble unnecessarily.
