While you might be able to board a plane in Utah and land at your destination without getting arrested, even if you have an open warrant, you take a big risk by doing so. To stay safe, it is essential to address any outstanding warrants before flying on a plane; our lawyers can assist you with this process.
Whether officers are investigating you and recently got a warrant for your arrest, or you have an open warrant for allegedly violating your probation or missing a meeting with your parole officer, you might get arrested and detained at the airport before boarding a plane. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents don’t routinely check for open warrants, but that doesn’t guarantee you can board a plane without hassle.
For a free case evaluation from our Utah criminal defense lawyers, call Overson & Bugden now at (801) 758-2287.
Can You Board a Plane with an Open Warrant in Utah?
You may be able to board a plane with an open warrant in Utah, but doing so carries significant risks. If law enforcement alerted airlines about your presence or were otherwise attempting to locate you, you might get arrested before boarding the plane.
It’s not normal practice for TSA agents to screen passengers for possible open warrants in Utah. You may easily navigate through security checkpoints, especially when flying domestically.
That said, there is always the risk that you will be stopped before boarding a plane if you have an open warrant and may be detained at the airport until law enforcement arrives to arrest you.
The chances of you successfully boarding a plane if there is a federal warrant for your arrest are almost non-existent. In these situations, law enforcement is likely actively pursuing an individual and may tell local airports to detain you.
What if You Are Detained at the Airport Because You Try to Fly with an Open Warrant?
You may be detained at the airport by police officers if they anticipate you boarding a plane or TSA agents otherwise become aware of an outstanding warrant and are concerned for the safety of other passengers. If you are detained at the airport, do not attempt to explain the situation to the authorities. Instead, tell them you will only speak to our lawyers and call us immediately.
You may not realize you have an open warrant and want to advocate for yourself if you are arrested at the airport. Please avoid that, and let us explain the situation to the authorities on your behalf. Furthermore, our Utah criminal defense lawyers can review the arrest warrant to bring you up to speed on the charges pending against you.
Being detained at the airport can be embarrassing and distressing, especially when traveling with others. Do your best to remain calm, and reach out right away to get the help you need from our Park City criminal defense lawyers. Anything you say out of anger or frustration may be used against you, so do not speak to law enforcement.
Can You Get Arrested Upon Arrival if You Fly with an Open Warrant?
You should address any outstanding warrants before flying out of Utah, as you may be arrested upon arrival at your destination. Even if law enforcement isn’t waiting for you at the airport, officers in another state might arrest you while you are present there.
If you get pulled over while driving and officers run your driver’s license, they may see that you have an open warrant in Utah and detain you. If you are arrested for a completely separate reason in a different state, your open warrant in Utah will likely be discovered by law enforcement as well.
If your open warrant is discovered, you may be detained in Utah until you are extradited or moved back to Utah to face criminal charges there. This can be a very frightening and distressing experience, so reach out to us for help navigating it.
Should You Fly on a Plane with an Open Warrant in Utah?
Refrain from flying on a plane with an open warrant. It’s too risky and might lead to unnecessary headaches during a criminal trial.
Our attorneys can help you address any open warrants before you fly. Warrants for missed parole meetings or court dates can be easily resolved, especially with our assistance. If you are aware of an open warrant and flee the state anyway, the prosecution may attempt to use that against you.
Flying with an open warrant might paint you in a negative light during your trial, affecting how jurors see you. For this reason alone, it is inadvisable and may create unnecessary problems in your case.
What if You Are Detained After Flying with an Open Warrant?
If you are detained in another state after flying out of Utah with an outstanding warrant, contact our attorneys immediately. Don’t explain the situation to police officers, and only say that you want to remain silent and will speak to our attorneys alone.
We can work on getting you extradited from the state you are currently in and back to Utah. Without our attorneys’ help, this process might take unnecessarily long. Waste no time contacting us so that we can protect your rights. Tell us about the conditions officers are holding you in and if they have been aggressive or violated your rights in any way.
Even if you didn’t know about an open warrant before flying, don’t try to explain that to the officers detaining you. Your explanations might be convoluted or contradictory because of your heightened emotions, which is why this is indivisible. We can give that context later on, so focus on calling us immediately.
Call Us for Help with Your Criminal Defense in Utah
For a free case discussion with Overson & Bugden, call our Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyers at (801) 758-2287.