I was arrested for failure to appear for a littering ticket. I got this ticket 4 years ago when I was 17. I'm 21 now. They came to my house and arrested me in the middle of dinner. I had to pay $245.50 to get out of jail. I was just wondering if this is legal because I was under age when I "failed to appear".
2007-06-15 06:58:21 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
If it is within the statute of limitations, then yes they can. They will penalize you as the crime would have been penalized back then, but they can.
And a "failure to appear" is a pretty serious thing. THAT was what got you into so much trouble. Not the littering. I am sure if you would have gone, the issue would have been a much smaller one.
2007-06-15 07:24:44 · answer #1 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I didn't read all the answers but did not see anyone address "due diligence." Law enforcement agencies must make a good effort to serve a warrant. This is called due diligence. If they had the warrant & made no efforts to serve the warrant for 4 yrs, the warrant may no longer be valid. Was the address correct? How many times did officers attempt to serve the warrant & how? Had officers come to your house before? Basically, what efforts did police make to serve the warrant in the 4 yr period?
2007-06-15 15:07:28 · answer #2 · answered by XPig 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So, you had a warrant out for your arrest for 4 years. It wasn't high priority. You were convicted at the failure to appear and fined. The money was still owed to the court.
2007-06-15 15:04:38 · answer #3 · answered by reinformer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yup. A warrant is good until it is served. I arrested a guy once for a failure to appear on a traffic citation warrant from 1982. It doesn't matter if you were a juvenile when the warrant was issued, yes, it is legal.
2007-06-15 14:05:59 · answer #4 · answered by trueblue3167 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure the charge was just for littering? 'most everywhere, this is a misdemeanor. is there no statute of limitations on this? I suspect they tapped you for failure to appear, but even so- must be a quiet crime night in town.
lawyer.
lawyer.
2007-06-15 19:32:13 · answer #5 · answered by sirbobby98121 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-06-15 14:05:54 · answer #6 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of whether you were under age, it was still a criminal act. The only difference is the penalty. Penalties for minors are not as extreme.
2007-06-15 14:02:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep, if the statute of limitations hasn't run out, it's totally legal. and you did get a ticket. You're actually lucky, it could have been $500.00.
2007-06-15 15:34:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's legal. First, it wasn't a felony. Second, 17 is legal age in most states.
2007-06-15 14:07:13 · answer #9 · answered by alee522 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
YES they need your money and everyone eles to pay for all the paper they have to buy to do that paper work just think u didn't have to pay for a whole days work
2007-06-15 14:21:58 · answer #10 · answered by fancy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋