Accepted Answer

Hi again:

the first thing that I would tell you is that the court has the power under most circumstances to substitute community service for fines. The exchange rate is crummy---less than $10 per hour of community service in most states. It's technically discretionary, but I have never seen a circumstance where someone has asked for community service in lieu of a fine and the court has refused to grant it.

The function of a warrant is to bring someone before the court. When you answer a warrant with a bail amount set, you are given a court date to appear. The bail is assurance that you will appear in court because you forfeit it if you don't. The bail is returned to you as long as you appear for court as ordered. Bail bond companies post the bail on your behalf, charging 10% in most jurisdictions. If you can't make bail, you are detained until the court can hear your case on an expedited basis (48 hours or less in most jurisidictions--usually overnight at most).

The reason that I tell you this is that if the purpose of the warrant is to bring you before the court, why would the court arrest you to bring you before the court on the matter for which you are appearing? It makes sense (and happens all the time) when someone appears on a different matter and is arrested on a warrant for an unrelated matter, but that's not what we're discussing here. The court just wants you to come in to deal with the issue of your outstanding debt (based on what you have said), and that's what you need to do and apparently want to do.

If you're really worried about it, put about $250 bucks in your pocket to cover a bail bond when you make your appointment. You've avoided it this long, but it sounds like you just want to get this resolved so you can move on with your life.

Expert:	B. T. Mayer, Counselor at Law
Pos. Feedback:	99.7 %
Accepts:
Answered:	6/18/2009

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California attorney experienced in family, probate, criminal, and personal injury law.