Legal Question in Traffic Law in Washington

Re: Does a bench warrant ever expire?

Warrants for misdemeanors expire after five years. Mosts courts have a system in place to ensure that warrants are renewed just prior to their expiration.

Typically, there is no extradition in connection with misdemeanor warrants; however, if it is a traffic related matter, you will not clear the resulting suspsension of your driving privilege (which will be recognized by most every other state) until you have taken care of the warrant.

In some cases, an attorney may be able to resolve the case without the need for you to return to Washington State.