Requires A Conviction
In order to receive a warrant for failure to pay court costs under Oklahoma law, you must first be convicted of an underlying crime. As part of most convictions and sentences, the court will order you to pay a certain amount of money designated as court costs. These costs are likely in addition to any prison sentence or fine imposed. If you fail to pay this amount, you can be served with a warrant.
Procedure On A Warrant For Failure To Pay Court Costs
After being served with the warrant, there will be a hearing to determine if you are financially able to pay. It is important to respond to all court dates, since you will be able to argue any reasons why the costs have not been paid, or that you already paid them if that is the case.
The court has a number of options if it determines you have refused to pay costs when you are able. The court can order the payment divided into installments, and require you to meet those scheduled payments. In some cases, the judge can even imprison you for failing to pay, but only after a hearing which is recorded for the record. In the event the failure to pay involves a traffic violation, your driving privileges could even be suspended.
In order to resolve the warrant, you must attend all required court hearings. It may not be possible to simply pay the amount, but you should speak with an attorney or the prosecutor to explore this option.
A Tulsa Criminal Defense Attorney Can Tell You More
Since it is possible to serve a jail sentence on a warrant for failure to pay court costs, you should speak to an attorney about your case. Contact the Seventh Street Tulsa Law Firm at (918) 932-2777 for a initial and confidential consultation.