In your state can the police raid your home for a civil misdemenor violation, like an unpaid ticket?

Question

Where I live in Lubbock Texas the police took part in the Falcon II project to capture violent offenders, child preditors, and drug dealers.
Our police saw this as an opportunity to make many arrests, and raided peoples homes, arrested them, then took them to jail, all throughout the night.
They raided 80 homes that night, and they were proud of it too.
However, there was a problem, only three people arrested were violent offenders, child preditors, or drug dealers.
The other 77 homes were raided for civil violations, like unpaid parking tickets, city ordinance violations where the fines had not been paid, and such.
I am accustomed to seeing the gang style tactics used by my local police to carry out the tasks of raiding people's homes.
Where I used to live a raid took place across from my home, and the police did not care about the civilians all around, myself, and grandson encluded..
I am afraid to make this posting, but I really want to know if it is happening anywhere els

Answer 1

That's horrendous. Unfortunately, unpaid ticket = arrest warrant, so they were within their legal rights.

This kind of police action, especially if unchallenged, is one of the first steps to a police state.

Answer 2

These are criminal violations ( must be election year for your DA and Sheriff, they do this sort of thing to prove they are tough on crime)

But if a judge will sign off on a warrant, or if there is already an arrest warrant ( unpaid fines would have been bench warrants already issues) so they merely use these warrants or get additional search warrants also and off they go.

And since the police are ( or better have been) working with legally signed warrants by a judge, they are in the clear, and judges can't be sued.

Answer 3

I don't know the details around what incident you are referring to.
However, the law does allow, under certain circumstances, for the police to raid homes.

The details around legal searches are quite complex. However, any search must be mandated by a judge via a collection of evidence. Reasonable proof and grounds must be in place in order for the search to occur. The judge/judges who perside over such matters set the rigor involved to prove that such action is needed.

It is true that excessive unpaid dues/fines or offenses can result in Law Enforcement searches of named property. However, case law dictates that such searches be done with care: evidence of collections attempts, etc.

Example: A landlord can employ the service of a County Sheriff to oust a tenant that refuses to vacate a property after the completion of a lease, etc. Given that all city/state and federal guidelines and court related issues are not a problem, a landlord can have a law enforcement agency remove a squatter or tenant that is breaking the law.

Once again, the only grounds for such action are law breaking and/or the inability to solve a problem through more civil means.

Answer 4

This is a kind of yes and no question. It makes no sense to raid a house (search warrant) for an unpaid ticket when it is easier and more feasible for a judge to issue a bench warrant (warrant straight from the judge for arrest upon sight). A search warrant (to "raid" a person's house) must meet certain legal criteria, ie, justification for a warrant. Can't really see an unpaid ticket meeting the legal standards.

Answer 5

I know what you mean and yes they have been, especially here in Texas. (San Marcos here). As long as they have a warrant they can do whatever they like. They have been coming down really hard on Central Texas....so be careful and explain this to the Department if you live in a bad area they will know to watch out for you and your grandson. Remember, they are on our side and cleaning up the streets!

Answer 6

Not unless they have a warrent for your arrest...and unpaid tickets can get a warrent on you. They usually round up unpaid ticket people at certain times. They issue warrants and go around to find and arrest them.

Answer 7

I would say that if the civil violations went long enough for them to get a warrant. Then yes.

Answer 8

If a warrant has been issued, they can serve and arrest you by any means available to them!

Answer 9

In Colorado Absolutely Not!! I'm sure Police officers can make up anything they want to do what they want!!

Answer 10

as long as they have an arrest warrent, they can knock on the door and arrest a person, but not bust in. they can only bust in if they have a "no knock" warrent. (wi)