It is possible to board a plane and fly out of New Jersey if there is an open warrant for your arrest. While possible, it’s also inadvisable and could yield negative consequences during a future criminal trial.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) doesn’t routinely check passengers for open warrants. If law enforcement alerts local airlines that someone with an outstanding warrant may be flying, TSA agents may screen passengers more closely. If you fly to another state with an open warrant, you may be detained by law enforcement there and face extradition back to New Jersey. Contact our lawyers as soon as possible, and we can assist with your criminal case moving forward.
For a free and confidential case review from our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers, call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych now at (609) 616-4956.
Can You Fly with an Open Warrant in New Jersey?
While flying domestically with an open warrant for your arrest in New Jersey is not impossible, it is risky and could impact a future criminal case.
When you go to the airport to fly domestically, TSA agents typically don’t check for open warrants. If law enforcement is actively seeking you, they might call airports in New Jersey, prompting TSA agents to check passengers’ identification more closely.
The TSA focuses on ensuring passenger safety rather than enforcing criminal law. However, if agents become aware of an open warrant or are concerned about the safety of other passengers, they may alert law enforcement. Airports typically have a police presence on site, which is another factor to consider if you are flying with an open warrant in New Jersey.
If you fly internationally with an open warrant, a foreign country may refuse you entry and detain you at the border.
If there is a federal warrant for your arrest, the chances of you successfully boarding a plane out of New Jersey are very low.
Should You Fly with an Open Warrant in New Jersey?
Flying with an open warrant is extremely risky. There’s a high likelihood of arrest when you get to your destination, and boarding a plane with a warrant for your arrest might be used against you during a trial.
Even if you fly to a different state with an open warrant in New Jersey, law enforcement officials in that state may be notified of your presence. If a judge has granted officers a warrant to arrest you, officers will want to execute that warrant, often as soon as possible. They may quickly locate you in another state and alert law enforcement there, who may promptly detain you.
If your case goes to trial, the prosecution might try to use you flying with an open warrant as proof of your guilt. Let us provide the necessary context in these situations. If you have flown with an outstanding warrant and are facing criminal charges in New Jersey, please contact us.
You shouldn’t fly with an open warrant. If you know you are the subject of a police investigation, involve our lawyers as soon as possible. We can advocate for you before a warrant is issued for your arrest and after, protecting your rights and building your defense.
What Happens if You Are Arrested After Flying with an Open Warrant?
If you fly with an open warrant and get apprehended in a different state, call our lawyers immediately. Refuse to speak to law enforcement officers, and keep invoking your right to remain silent if they continue trying to talk to you.
Initial Arrest
Officers may detain you upon arrival in another state. Only speak to our lawyers while you are in custody. We can review the New Jersey warrant for your arrest and explain the charges the prosecution plans to bring against you. Tell us if officers in another state violated your rights and describe the conditions in which you were being held.
Extradition
When you are arrested in one state for an alleged offense in another, you must be extradited or returned to the state that is pressing criminal charges against you. When defendants waive extradition, meaning they don’t contest being taken back to New Jersey to face charges, the process can be relatively speedy. Without our lawyers, this process may take too long. If you are facing extradition to New Jersey from another state, please call us.
Questioning
Before and after you are extradited to New Jersey, law enforcement officers may want to question you. Do not submit to an interview without our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers, as we can prevent you from unintentionally incriminating yourself by misspeaking.
Should You Get a Lawyer if You Fly with an Open Warrant in New Jersey?
Whether or not you knew about an open warrant for your arrest before getting on a plane and flying out of New Jersey, call us if you are detained in another state. Tell us if you were unaware of the warrant. After all, you are not privy to ongoing police investigations and may not know about a warrant until you are arrested.
Our lawyers can explain this to the jury during your trial, especially if the prosecution tries to use this as evidence of guilt.
Our attorneys can represent you during extradition proceedings and all court appearances after you return to New Jersey. As we delve further into the reason for the warrant, we can gain a better understanding of the evidence law enforcement has and the case against you in general.
Charges do not always stick, especially if our lawyers successfully suppress evidence before the trial begins. The sooner you involve us to defend you, the better. So, call us right away if you were recently arrested after flying with an outstanding warrant.
For Help with Your Case, Call Our New Jersey Defense Attorneys
For a free case assessment from our Atlantic City, NJ criminal defense lawyers, call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych at (609) 616-4956.
