Can you get a bench warrant for failing to appear in traffic court? This is in Indiana?

Question

My boyfriend got arrested a few days ago, he was driving on a license that he diddnt know was suspended and apparently had a warrant that he diddnt know about. He's been locked up for the last few days and has found out that the warrant is for failure to appear back in 2001 in a diffrent county. The problem is that he has no idea what he was supposed to appear for. So does anyone know if you can get a bench warrant for failing to appear in traffic court? Or what happens if you are caught driving on a suspended license? Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes you can...

Answer 2

Yeah, of course, and what happens to him depends on his record. People go to state prison for driving on suspended or revoked drivers license.

Some might say it's breaking the law.

Answer 3

When you miss an appearance in court you are in contempt of that court. The warrant is an order to the law enforcement folks to pick this guy up and bring his butt to my court, face to face.

When you are given a citation it is clear what it is for, and when you must act by appearing for a plea, or settling with the payment of a fine. Forgetting about it is about the lamest excuse a judge could hear.

Driving while suspended is again contempt of a judges order. The judge suspended the license, and your boyfriend thumbed his nose at him.

He has given them grounds to arrest him and put him in jail for TWO different reasons.

You might want to reconsider your relationship.

Answer 4

I live in Indiana and yes he can go to jail for a bench warrant for not appering in traffic court .. If he is pulled over while driving while suspended he can also get arrested ... I didnt pay my ticket and I was suspended and thank God I didnt get pulled over before I payed the ticket because they told me when I paid the ticket that I would have been arrested if I had been caught