Can a parish charge me as a fugitive if they pick me up on a bench warrant issued by another parish?
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Can a parish charge me as a fugitive if they pick me up on a bench warrant issued by another parish?
I received a speeding ticket 9 years ago from Ascension Parish. However I was only passing through I have never lived in that Parish. Well I missed 1 court date and they sent a bench warrant to Jefferson Parish (which is where I lived). Jefferson arish came to my mom’s house and arrested me and submitted PTO the state criminal background system that I was a fugitive. is that legal? How am I a fugitive if I never lived in that parish in the first place. I didn’t flee I just didn’t have transportation to get to court on that particular date. What should I do? I can’t get job
Asked on August 20, 2011 Louisiana
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you received a speeding ticket years ago in one jurisdiction of Louisiana, failed to attend the court proceeding regarding the ticket resulting in the issuance of a bench warrant for your arrest, that jurisdiction of Louisiana can obtain assistance from another separate jursdiction in the same state to arrest you on this outstanding bench warrant.
This is apparently what happened and the arrest of you is entirely legal. The reason you are deemed a "fugitive" of the jurisdiction of the parish where you received a speeding ticket and failed to appear is that you were in that parish where the ticket was issued against you. That parish has jurisdiction over you since you were in it when the incident happened.
You need to attend the court hearing for the release of your assumed bond and take care of that speeding ticket you received nine (9) years ago.
Good luck.
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