TexasArrestWarrantRecords.com | Texas Warrant Roundup

What is the Texas Warrant Roundup?
The Texas Department of Public Safety created a statewide enforcement effort called the Great Texas Warrant Roundup to collect debt owed to the state from outstanding warrants. Many of the warrants are for people who failed to pay or settle past due traffic tickets with the state of Texas. Since Texas is a large state, the Warrant Roundup is by far the largest joint operation of its kind in the United States. Every year, more than 240 law enforcement agencies and departments across Texas participate.

In addition to carrying out warrants for parking tickets, the Texas Warrant Roundup also targets anyone with an outstanding warrant for class C misdemeanors, city ordinance violations, and various other misdemeanors and felonies. If you have any of these warrants in your name you will be at risk for arrest once the Warrant Roundup begins. This means you can be arrested in your home, school, office, or some other public place on the spot.

To encourage citizens to come forward on their own and satisfy outstanding warrants with the state, the Texas Warrant Roundup is carried out in 2 phases. If you fail to pay or resolve your warrant before the Texas Roundup begins then your name will appear on the warrant list and law enforcement will be looking for you. It's better to resolve any warrants ahead of time so you won't be caught in a surprise arrest.

Texas Warrant Roundup Phases
PHASE 1 – Counties in the state of Texas will mail out thousands of notices to people with active warrants before the Texas Warrant Roundup begins. The reason is to alert citizens of the outstanding warrant and warn them of the consequences if the warrant isn't dealt with before the Warrant Roundup is in place. This is known as the grace period. All citizens are encouraged to take advantage of this period to take care of the warrant(s) on their own terms.

If you receive one of these notices it will provide information on how to contact the respective court and pay the outstanding fines so you can resolve the warrant in your name. Many traffic ticket courts and other courts in Texas offer a two-week period which enables citizens to pay the fines associated with their outstanding warrants. I highly recommend you do this to avoid an unwanted arrest.

PHASE 2 – Once the grace period is over, the Great Texas Warrant Roundup officially begins. This is known as phase 2 and lasts for several weeks usually in February or March every year. Those who have outstanding warrants will be arrested immediately if law enforcement catches up with you. You will be brought to court before a judge to answer for the outstanding warrant(s). In addition to risking jail time, anyone with an unpaid fine or warrant during the Texas Warrant Roundup can have a hold placed on the renewal of their vehicle registration or license until the warrant is resolved.

During the Texas Warrant Roundup
If you come into contact with police during the Warrant Roundup (or at any other time during the year), the best thing to do is cooperate with the law. Let the officer know you're willing to surrender. Being polite and respectful will go a long way as to how you are treated by police and may help you to avoid further charges. You don't want to get into more trouble especially of you already have a record. While it may not be easy, try and stay calm.

If you're in a car slow down and pull over as soon as possible and it's safe to do so. Remain in your car unless otherwise instructed. Placing your hands on the steering wheel or somewhere visible tells the police you are non-threatening and aren't hiding a gun, weapon or drugs. Do not make any sudden movements since it may be misinterpreted as a threat or defensive behavior which can cause law enforcement to react and use force against you.

The police officer will ask for your license and go back into his cruiser to check your background. If any warrants are attached to your name this is when they will find out. As stated before, during the Warrant Roundup any outstanding warrants that show up in your name will yield an arrest. Listen to the arresting officer and do as he/she says. You will have the chance to plead your case later. At the time of arrest is not the time to fight against the system.

The Facts You Should Know About the Texas Warrant Roundup
Thousands of civilians will have been arrested by the time the Texas Warrant Roundup is done and millions of dollars in fines will have been paid to the state. When the Warrant Roundup is in force it's nearly impossible to hide from the law. If you have an outstanding warrant in Texas, the best thing to do is come forward and satisfy the debt as soon as possible to clear your name even if the Warrant Roundup has already begun. Approaching the police on your own goes a long way and may help you from incurring further fines.

If you have a criminal warrant or a warrant you are not sure how to resolve it may be necessary to contact an attorney. Some cases are complicated especially if they are of a criminal nature and you risk being arrested on the spot if you go to a Texas court house alone. An attorney will help you approach the Texas court system in the right manner and can help you post bond to suspend an arrest warrant if necessary. This will send your case back before the courts to be decided by a jury.