Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

that is interesting ... but ... no way to say why it didn't come up before. Issue is if it is "valid" i.e. if you had a criminal case (driving on a suspended license) that you failed to appear on and knew about ... if you did not know about it, an attorney will be able to get rid of that warrant issue.

I advise to see some attorneys � many of them give free consultations in person or on the phone. Talk to some that are local to where the case will be heard. Good luck!

This is not just a traffic offense. Based on the amount of the bail I assume it is charged as a misdemeanor and it can have all sorts of repercussions. I strongly suggest that you get a lawyer to represent you. If you cannot afford a lawyer and it is a misdemeanor the court will appoint a lawyer to represent you. But don't make any decisions until you've spoken to a lawyer and the lawyer has a chance to review the case.

'Why' something happened or not would be useless speculation. If there is no valid warrant, but this is a records mistake, then yes, you can get the warrant 'dismissed' by the issuing court upon proof of the error. If you actually have a valid warrant, no matter how old, you now will be forced to deal with it properly, along with whatever criminal charges it is based upon. You don't get to chose what charges there are.

To handle a warrant, you must turn yourself in to the issuing court, with or without an attorney. You�ll try to negotiate a recall of the warrant[s] and bail reduction or OR release. You�ll try to negotiate a plea bargain on any �Failure to Appear� charge or probation violation that caused the warrant. You�ll try to negotiate a plea bargain or take to trial the outstanding charge that caused the warrant. Effective plea-bargaining, using whatever legal defenses, facts and sympathies there may be, could possibly keep you out of jail/prison, or at least dramatically reduce it, and may enable you to get your probation and programs reinstated. Unless you're competent to effectively represent yourself in court against a professional prosecutor trying to put you in jail, most people hire an attorney who can. If serious about hiring counsel to help in this, feel free to contact me. .

It's time for a lawyer. This old case can very potentially be dismissed on a motion based on the age and that you have been stopped before without it coming up.

Yes, not having a valid license is better than a suspended license, but why not try to beat it entirely?

To answer your question directly, there is no limitations period for a warrant. There are statute of limitations for the prosecution to file a complaint, but once that is filed and you fail to appear, the statute of limitations is no longer an issue, and you are considered a fugitive.

You should still speak to a lawyer, because you may have grounds to show that speedy trial rights have been violated if the state has not been proactive in enforcing the misdemeanor warrant.