Is there a statute of limitations ona warrant
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Is there a statute of limitations ona warrant
I was arrested for possession of under 10 grams of marijuana and I agreed to pay a fine within 6 months. I failed to pay it and I now have a warrant.
Asked on February 29, 2012 under Criminal Law, Illinois
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
As a general rule, warrants do not expire. This means that even if the authorities don't actively pursue you, if you are stopped for something as minor a jaywalking, you can be detained and taken into custody. Additionally, this will show up on your criminal history record, so this will be seen on an employment background check or the like.
The only way to handle this is to go to court and appear before a judge. And the best way to do this is to hire an attorney who practices in the court in question. They can best use their local contacts to your best advantage.
Kevin Bessant / Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
In criminal law, once a warrant has been issued, there is generally no statue of limitations that may terminate the warrant or criminal case. Check with a criminal defense attorney in your State to see if a statue of limitations applies to criminal cases after a warrant has been issued. If not, then you need to make arragements to address the warrant and pay the amount of the fine to close your case and terminate the warrant.
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