Expert: Robin Sexton - 7/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: Are there different levels of warrants?  Are some warrants nationwide and others just statewide?  If there's a warrant on a vehicle is that different?  For ex. if someone skips out on paying a towing charge and just grabs their car what happens?

ANSWER: Kellen,
Yes their are different types of warrants and then also each agency may handle them differently.  There is no definitive standard.  The warrant in based on the the type of crime alleged. If it is a felony crime then it is a felony warrant.  Felony warrants are allowed to be put into the National data base but are not required.  Some agencies don' put them in  Nation wide if they have no intention of extraditing.  Misdemeanor and civil warrants can only be state wide.  However each state or jurisdiction may specify a pick up range. For example, within 100 miles.  This is based on the cost to the agencies.
Warrants are for people only not for vehicles.  Vehicle however are listed in the different data bases as stolen or wanted.  The authorizing agency is responsible for the legitimacy of the entry.

Hope this helped


Robin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks you very much, so for the example I listed about the skipping out on a 90 dollar towing charge, what would the likely scenario be?  a statewide listing as wanted on the vehicle?

Answer
Kellen,

Sorry i didn't answer that one more specifically.  Under 100 dollars is usually not very serious.  It could be considered a simple larceny and if charges are filed it would be a statewide pick up at the most.  For a  smaller jurisdiction it could be less.  However it doesn't mean that can't change their mind.  If the vehicle belongs to the person that took it then it would not be listed as it is not stolen. This is all dependent on if the failure to pay the tow bill was even reported.

Hope that helped.

Robin