What happens if I have a warrant?
It is very common to forget to appear at your scheduled hearing since it is often not something you plan for. Do not be alarmed—this is something that can usually be resolved quickly. Seeing a warrant listed on your case online can be intimidating, especially when you see entries like the one below:
As shown in this example, the case indicates a missed court hearing as of April 20, 2018. The abbreviation FTA stands for Failure to Appear, which is why the Court issued a warrant for the person’s arrest.
Most Arizona courts maintain their own websites where you can search for your case status and check if there is an active warrant. You do not have to call the court; you can simply look it up online.
A warrant is an order for your arrest issued by the Court because you missed a scheduled hearing. The purpose of issuing a warrant is to ensure your presence so the court can resolve your pending case.
When you receive a citation, the scheduled hearing date, time, and location are typically printed at the bottom of the citation:
If you have hired an attorney, you generally do not need to appear in court yourself, as your attorney will handle hearings and other court appearances on your behalf.
Once a warrant has been issued, the court will send a notice to the most current mailing address on file with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). This is why it is very important to keep your address up to date with the MVD. In some cases, the MVD may suspend your driver’s license until the warrant is resolved.
What if I have a warrant and do not have an attorney?
If you have a warrant and no attorney, you can appear at the court on your own to file a motion to quash the warrant (request to cancel the warrant) and ask for a new hearing date.
Be prepared to pay a warrant fee at the court, which is a standard charge for failing to appear.
After paying the warrant fee and resolving any driver’s license suspension, you should also check with the MVD to see if there is an additional license reinstatement fee to restore your driving privileges.
Can I get arrested?
Yes. If you live out of state and have an active Arizona warrant, especially for a felony, you can be arrested in that state based on Arizona’s warrant. Arizona participates in interstate warrant enforcement through systems like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which law enforcement agencies across the U.S. access.
If your license is suspended due to a warrant or unresolved case, driving on a suspended license can also lead to arrest.
Can a third party (non-lawyer) take care of the warrant?
Generally, no. Warrants must be resolved by the individual named in the warrant. Third parties cannot clear a warrant for someone else, except in very limited and specific circumstances, such as bail or bond posting through a licensed bondsman.
Does a warrant go away after time?
No, warrants do not expire or automatically go away over time. An active warrant can remain outstanding for many years—10, 20, 30, 50 years or more—until it is resolved by the person appearing in court or otherwise clearing the warrant.