Make sure you have a clean record before you cruise

[chateau]

Now she has a case against the judicial system.... yep, sure does!

 

[DarthTod]

This is exactly what I was thinking, I thought the purpose of cruise lines submitting the manifest was so Homeland Security could check it over before the ship sailed. Hopefully they just waited until the ship returned because she was NOT on the watch list.

I wouldn't bet on that. DHS isn't too concerned when you are leaving the country on a foreign vessel. Coming into the country on a foreign vessel? now they're interested.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I think its silly to spend all that police manpower and court time over $85.00, but it happened and should have been taken care of back in the day.

This is the exact reason that police may pick up ANYONE with a bench warrant regardless of "crime". If people knew that they wouldn't be arrested for minor infractions, then people would always ignore tickets and court dates. Also, the arresting officers don't always know what the warrant is for. They just do their job.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I wouldn't bet on that. DHS isn't too concerned when you are leaving the country on a foreign vessel. Coming into the country on a foreign vessel? now they're interested.

Why wouldn't they be interested? Many Americans are on board and it is leaving an American port. Also, it's registered in the Bahamas, but I wouldn't categorize a Disney cruise ship as a "foreign" vessel.

 

[newmommie77]

Probably more to this situation since misdemeanors for less than $300 are purged after 10 years.

 

[newmommie77]

Probably more to this situation since misdemeanors for less than $300 are purged after 10 years.

Sorry. Meant to add in the state of FL

 

[neg58]

Crime committed 22 years ago, passport valid for 10 yrs.

The reason a passport can be withheld for failure to pay child support is because there is a specific law that provides for it. Usually the federal government doesn't care about state court matters, but someone passed this bill so they can withhold passports for THIS specific reason. Outstanding parking tickets? Arrested for something? No. Other than that, states control their own licenses and requirements, but if you owe child support in California you might be able to get a driver's license in Georgia if those two states don't have an agreement.

However, state courts and the federal law enforcement, including homeland security, do work together to enforce warrants. Arrests are OFTEN made as people come back into the country because that's when you run into customs. On the way OUT of the country, you show your passport to the airline people, the ship people, the customs people from the foreign country. Coming back? USA all the way.

Usually a person is held on the warrant where they are arrested, and the authority that issued the warrant is then asked if they want to transport the detainee, because the cost does go to the warrant issuer. Is California going to transport over $85? Unlikely. Is the next county over in Florida? Maybe.

The fine itself is no longer the issue so it doesn't matter if it was $85 or $8500, it's the Bench Warrant. The warrant has to be quashed (dismissed) before she can be released.

Nancy

 

[neg58]

Now she has a case against the judicial system.... yep, sure does!

How? She was wanted on a warrant, and she was found and arrested. Where's the violation? She even admits that it was her fine that wasn't paid.

Nancy

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Probably more to this situation since misdemeanors for less than $300 are purged after 10 years.

That is likely for cases that have been fully discharged. In this case, a warrant was issued due to the defendant's failure to complete the terms of their sentence. That isn't just going to go away.

Just curious if you could provide a link to that law, I can't seem to find it anywhere. All I see is expungement, which requires action on the defendant's part and is not automatic.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Why wouldn't they be interested? Many Americans are on board and it is leaving an American port. Also, it's registered in the Bahamas, but I wouldn't categorize a Disney cruise ship as a "foreign" vessel.

Yes, that's what I was getting at earlier. I will be on the Dream in 10 Days and don't want to have a terrorist on board. I thought that's what these screenings were for. It may technically be a "foreign vessel" but there will be thousands of Americans on board.

 

[lilpooh108]

Probably more to this situation since misdemeanors for less than $300 are purged after 10 years.

Is this true? Then why wouldn't her bench warrant have expired?

 

[lilpooh108]

The reason a passport can be withheld for failure to pay child support is because there is a specific law that provides for it. Usually the federal government doesn't care about state court matters, but someone passed this bill so they can withhold passports for THIS specific reason. Outstanding parking tickets? Arrested for something? No. Other than that, states control their own licenses and requirements, but if you owe child support in California you might be able to get a driver's license in Georgia if those two states don't have an agreement.

However, state courts and the federal law enforcement, including homeland security, do work together to enforce warrants. Arrests are OFTEN made as people come back into the country because that's when you run into customs. On the way OUT of the country, you show your passport to the airline people, the ship people, the customs people from the foreign country. Coming back? USA all the way.

Usually a person is held on the warrant where they are arrested, and the authority that issued the warrant is then asked if they want to transport the detainee, because the cost does go to the warrant issuer. Is California going to transport over $85? Unlikely. Is the next county over in Florida? Maybe.

The fine itself is no longer the issue so it doesn't matter if it was $85 or $8500, it's the Bench Warrant. The warrant has to be quashed (dismissed) before she can be released.

Nancy

Nancy, this is so interesting.

Do bench warrants ever expire in FL?

If the issuing jurisdiction declines to transport, what happens then?

 

[bitlerzx4]

How sad and embarrassing for her and for them to say where she works at her firm. I hope she doesn't lose her job over this. It was probably a bench warrant - it's shocking how many people have these for fines and what not. In my county judges issue bench warrants for civil matters as well as criminal. Some people don't even know they have one out for them.

I was thinking the same thing.