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Los Angeles DUI Warrants

Los Angeles DUI Attorney

When a defendant who has been charged with driving under the influence fails to appear in court or when a defendant on DUI probation commits a violation, the Court will usually issue a bench warrant authorizing the defendant’s arrest. DUI warrants do not simply “go away” after a long period of time and can have a serious impact on a person’s life. If you believe that you or a loved one may have a warrant on a DUI case, it is imperative that you consult with a Los Angeles DUI Attorney as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways that a warrant may be triggered in a DUI case. When a driver is stopped and arrested for driving under the influence, he or she is usually booked and will spend a night in jail before being released. This is not always the case and some defendants may have to remain in custody until they either post bail or appear in court for their DUI arraignment. Defendants who are released early will generally be provided with a citation that has a future arraignment date. The arraignment may be weeks or even months later.

If the defendant fails to appear at his or her arraignment hearing, the judge will issue a bench warrant. This warrant would be entered into a database that would be visible to law enforcement agencies nationwide. In some cases, no criminal case will be filed by the stated arraignment date. For misdemeanor DUI charges, the prosecutor has a year to file charges. If charges are filed, a letter is usually sent to the defendant’s address as provided at the time of arrest with the new arraignment date. This is not always the case. Failure to appear at this arraignment date will result in a bench warrant being issued by the judge. Similarly, a judge will issue a bench warrant if the defendant misses any subsequent DUI pretrial or trial date.

For defendants who are on DUI probation to the Court, any violation of a term of probation can result in the judge issuing a bench warrant. When a person is sentenced on a DUI offense, there will be several terms of probation and deadlines that the defendant must adhere to. If the defendant fails to pay fines by the deadline or does not submit proof of completion of his or her drug and alcohol education class, the judge will issue a warrant. Many of the drug and alcohol programs will tell defendants that they will provide proof of completion to the Court but subsequently fail to follow through on their promise. In these cases, a warrant will issue as the defendant is ultimately responsible for ensuring that everything is filed in a timely manner. In addition, if the defendant is terminated from the class or is charged with a new offense, the judge may be alerted of the defendant’s violation and a bench warrant could be issued.

Because most DUI cases are misdemeanor-level offenses, a DUI warrant is not considered high priority and law enforcement may not make any active attempts to execute the warrant. However, if a person is ever pulled over or otherwise has contact with any law enforcement agency, the officer may discover the active warrant and can arrest the defendant. Warrants can also be an issue at airports and for people who are entering the country. Warrants do not go away and a person may have an active warrant for decades without any action taken on it. Law enforcement agencies periodically conduct warrant sweeps to clear old warrants and many DUI defendants are arrested at this point.

A warrant will also generally trigger a driver’s license suspension in California, however this is not always the case and some defendants are able to renew licenses despite having an active warrant.

For people with active misdemeanor DUI warrants, most courts allow an attorney to appear on behalf of the defendant pursuant to California Penal Code Section 977(a) PC to have the warrant cleared. This can be critical for defendants who live in other states but who have old warrants out of California.

If you or a loved one believe that you may have an outstanding warrant, it is crucial that you consult with a Los Angeles DUI Lawyer immediately. You could be picked up on the warrant at any point. As a former Deputy District Attorney with over 14 years of prosecutorial experience, Lawyer Michael Kraut is highly effective at clearing old warrants and helping his clients avoid the penalties associated with them.

For more information about Los Angeles DUI warrants, and to schedule your free consultation, contact Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Mr. Kraut can be reached 24/7 at 888-334-6344 or 323-464-6453.


Client Reviews
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is outstanding! He genuinely cared about my case and instructed my mom and I throughout the entire process. He was very clear on what he needed in order to receive the best results. He kept us updated until the end. I thank him so much for getting my charges rejected. I highly recommend him to anyone with legal needs! Shaquan
★★★★★
I contacted Michael with concern for my personal and business reputation. He was very reassuring and confident the entire time. After about 3 weeks it was determined that no charges were being filed by any agency and I was in the clear of any investigation. One thing that is amazing is just how FAST Michael is at replying to phone calls, texts, and even emails! We are talking under 30 minutes in most cases. That is unheard of for most attorneys! Michael is incredible and not your typical run of the mill attorney. For best results hire him if you feel like you might be under investigation or could face charges. Even if you know you are innocent it is best to take care of the smoke before it becomes a fire. Brad
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is-hands down-the best criminal defense attorney and I can't begin to thank him for all that he did for me and my family. I reached out to him in the middle of the night and less than a couple hours later, he had gotten back to me and scheduled a meeting. He's a no-nonsense attorney who knows how to get the job done! From the second we retained him, I had peace of mind in knowing that we were in the best hands possible. If Michael Kraut couldn't get it done, I knew that it couldn't be done at all. You can't put a price tag on your freedom. He was worth every single penny. Lida
★★★★★
Michael Kraut is an outstanding attorney. He was extremely professional, and straightforward, yet sensitive with my case. I am confident I made the right choice by hiring Michael. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a truly experienced lawyer. Daniel
★★★★★
Michael Kraut - I cannot thank you enough for all that you did for ​my son. When I came to you I read that you used to be a district attorney but I never knew how much that meant until I watch you in court. I knew it took 3 months but the final day when I heard the judge say that all charges were dismissed it was all worth it! I will always be grateful for all that you did for us. A.N.
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