Whether you are traveling to Utah for vacation or business, or you are just passing through, the last thing you want to deal with is a criminal charge in a state far from home. Navigating an unfamiliar state’s laws and systems can be complicated and overwhelming. Below are a few things you should know to get a better picture of what an arrest in Utah might mean for you.
Depending on the severity of the crime, you may be able to waive your appearance at many of your early court dates. This applies mostly to lesser crimes, and the likelihood of getting an appearance waived can depend on your defense lawyer. The experienced lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have fought for decades to protect non-residents who are charged in Utah. In some cases, our lawyers may even be able to get the entire case resolved without you ever needing to return to Utah and appear in court.
There are a variety of reasons a non-resident may be arrested at the Salt Lake International Airport. One of the most common reasons is for possession of a weapon, firearm, or handgun in a secure area. Even if you made an honest mistake and forgot to remove a weapon from your carry-on bag before you got to the airport, the Salt Lake City airport police will still make an arrest. Other common crimes at the airport that may result in an arrest include domestic violence, public intoxication, and possession of a controlled substance. You can learn more about arrests at the airport on our website.
If you have previously had a run in with the law in Utah for a felony or misdemeanor that you didn’t fully resolve, you may still have an open arrest warrant against you. The easiest way to find out is to search the Utah Statewide Warrants (SWW) website database. In some cases, you may have forgotten about an incident and your warrant could be quite old. Many times we find that clients had a warrant that was issued for failure to appear in court, bail jumping, or a violation of probation. We also represent clients awaiting extradition back to Utah from another state. If you find that you have a warrant against you, contact our expert legal team to make sure your rights are protected and you get it resolved before something like a routine traffic stop on a road trip turns into something much more serious.
The criminal defense lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat in Salt Lake City are familiar with the issues that may complicate your case as you navigate the legal process from outside Utah. We will work hard to protect your rights if you are living out of state with a pending criminal case being prosecuted in Salt Lake City or the surrounding areas in Utah.
Contact us at (801) 532-5297 if you have questions or if you are ready to talk about the best way to defend your case.
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