Q: Can you get arrested for a bench warrant? If you go to pay a long over due fine (5+ years), will they arrest you?

A: He may be taken into custody, probably briefly, to book him on the warrant, which will then clear the warrant and he can pay the fines. He needs to be sure he has enough money with him to pay the fine, the late fees, the reinstatement fee for his driver's license which is probably also going to have to be paid, and the booking fee. I suggest that he calls the court to find out how much money, in total (including booking fees, which will be separate), he will need to clear the whole thing. Sincerely, Frank B. Ford

A: I agree with Mr. Ford's response 100%. I would add the following. This advice only applies if you have no OTHER outstanding unpaid tickets, have not failed to appear at other cases, and have no other warrants from any other court. If there are warrants from any other jurisdiction, they will hold you until the other matters are resolved. In that case, once you clear the warrant at the local court, the arresting department will notify the other police departments in the jurisdictions having the other holds. They will ask those other departments whether they intend on sending someone to pick you up on those warrants. If so, the local department will hold you and you will be transported to the other jurisdiction to clear those matters. If they do not want to send a car (very often this is the case), they will release you, but those other warrants will remain, and you may be taken into custody anytime you are stopped until they are resolved. If you think you may have other tickets, warrants, retain counsel to assist you.