I have warrants and want to turn myself in but...

[Robert De Niro]

I live in LA County and I got caught up in San Bernardino County in '07 for a Wet Reckless. I think the fine was around $1200 and some DUI classes. I took some DUI classes and the judge ordered me to pay $50 a month, I payed for a few months and stopped because I was broke. In '08 I got 2 tickets at separate times, both in LA County, 1 for using a cell phone while driving and 1 for speeding. In '09 they suspended my license because of the 2 tickets because I failed to pay for them.

In the beginning of the year, some lady from their fines dept or something called and said I have a $30,000 warrant for the wet reckless. And I'm pretty sure the 2 tickets I got are now FTP's and or FTA's because I never payed for those.

Now I want to turn my self in because I got more time than money, but I'm told I can't do that, I can't go into a police station and tell them I have warrants. I've even gotten pulled over with friends and they let me go because I was "cooperative" several times now and ppl are saying the county is broke and they don't take ppl in for warrants because they want ppl to pay. SB county is like 60 miles from where I live and theres no way I can go to court even if I wanted to. I was thinking about trying to catch a mickey mouse case like loitering or disturbing the peace so they would run me and take me in, but that's a bad idea, lol.

I kind of caught a break though, one of my friends got in trouble for Criminal Threats (F) and is in Twin Towers in LA county jail and his next court date is 9/20/2011 in Compton. I'm thinking if I go visit him, they will run me and find my warrants and take me in. What do you guys/gals think will happen? Is a $30,000 warrant from '07 and 2 traffic FTA/FTP from '08 enough for them to take me into custody? I'm stressin', I wanna get this shit over with so I can get on with my life. The job that i want requires me to go to the local police station and get a gaming license so I don't wanna louse this job up untill I take care of all my legal matters. Thanks for reading, please help, take it easy.

[NikNak88]

Goodness....I haven't the slightest idea. I can totally understand wanting to get it over with though. But please don't go and do something illegal to get brought in lol ....that would just make your issues worse. Let me think on this for a minute .....

[sidewalker]

I agree with Niki, dont do anything to get into more trouble!
I know this sounds stupid but what if you asked to see a lawyer (free consult or something)
maybe they could advise you?

[FastCarGirl]

The only advice I have is to contact an attorney, either through legal aid or one that has free initial consultations.

[Robert De Niro]

Thanks ppl, ne1 else know if my $30,000 warrant is enough for them to take me in?

[2sleepy]

why don't you go to court ask if you can appear before the judge and see if you can clear the warrant and maybe do jail time in lieu of your fine?

[Gryphon]

If you do this without a lawyer:
Make a court date via the criminal court clerk (hopefully they let you. Some courts won't allow an FTA to be calendared, but I bet LA will allow it.) Turn in on the warrant at court. Ask for a reduction in fines based on poverty, and be prepared to prove it by bringing in a personal accounting. Do not fib, and the judge can swear you as a witness (fibbing would be grounds for a perjury charge.) Ask the court to also pull your traffic cases when you make the court date,
Maybe the judge will modify some fines. You can ask to turn in on the balance, but you are correct they probably won't take you. There is no such thing as debtor's prison, and LA Co. jail is full to bursting. You are hoping they won't take you on the FTAs because you are showing up to take care of things, and in LA they may not make you do time.
"Judge, have warrants because I couldn't pay fines and I lived out of town so I couldn't get to court. I am here to clean it all up."
Check to see how being on an informal aka summary grant of probation impacts a gaming license. You are on one of those because of the misdemeanor conviction.

[Patrickj]

Originally Posted by Robert De Niro

Thanks ppl, ne1 else know if my $30,000 warrant is enough for them to take me in?

In most counties a $30,000 warrant is pick your butt up anytime you have law enforcement contact The county I reside in is as low as $20,000
Go make a court date and take care of this thing . Trust me you don't want to be in no stinky rotten jail . Show an effort and they will work with you and appointee you an attorney if you need on