Can You Fly With a Warrant? Know Your Rights

When you have an arrest warrant, the thought of taking a flight can be pretty daunting. It’s natural to think that airport security will catch you when they check your ID or passport. However, the reality is a bit more complex.

Just because you have a warrant, it doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get arrested if you fly. In fact, flying with a warrant depends on various factors rather than being a straightforward yes or no situation. In this article, we’ll look at these factors and how they affect your ability to fly with a warrant.

Can You Fly With a Warrant?

YES, you’re allowed to take a flight even if you have a warrant. However, keep in mind that it’s not a guarantee every time. The exact answer relies on a variety of elements, such as your specific flight, your destination, and how severe the warrant is. Now, we’ll break it down for you to understand how these factors can impact your travels with a warrant.

Flight Type

It’s important to note that traveling within your own country (domestic) or other countries (international) has different rules and regulations. If you’re curious about how these differences can impact your ability to fly with a warrant, keep reading for the answers you’re looking for.

International Flights

Flying internationally with a warrant is allowed, but not not advisable because it’s seen as a higher risk. In the worst scenarios, leaving the country could be interpreted as admitting guilt. If someone with an active warrant travels internationally, you could get detained at the border and charged with trying to escape justice.

Hence, when a warrant hangs over you, it’s wiser to steer clear of global adventures. Before taking any actions with possible legal consequences, it’s good to talk with a legal professional, as our experts advise. Only travel if necessary! Period.

Domestic Flights

Flying with a warrant is possible, and not considered much of a big deal in the case of domestic flights. This is because domestic flight security is typically not as strict. They often don’t check passenger names against special warrant lists, and your name doesn’t automatically raise red flags.

So, there are situations where you could travel within your country with a warrant and not get caught. Still, don’t count on it as a foolproof escape. There’s a chance that issues could come up during security checks.

Editor’s Pick: Can You Bring Cigarettes On a Plane? Latest TSA Guide

Severity of Warrant

It’s important to understand that not all court warrants carry the same weight. Therefore, when you’re considering travel, the type and severity of your warrant play a crucial role in your decision to fly with a warrant. In the following sections, we will categorize various warrants with straightforward responses to the key question.

General Warrants

General warrants are like the easy-going cousins of the warrant family. They’re typically issued for minor infractions, such as parking tickets or minor traffic rule violations. The good news is that having a general warrant on your record usually won’t hinder your travel plans.

As long as you promptly settle the fine for these minor offenses (either on the spot or before your scheduled trip), you can continue to obtain a passport and travel domestically or internationally without unnecessary hurdles.

Bench Warrant

Now, let’s talk about bench warrants – they’re a bit trickier than general ones. Bench warrants pop up when you forget to show up in court for various reasons, like jury duty, summons, or child support matters. These are the types of warrants that can throw a wrench into your travel plans.

If your bench warrant is connected to serious stuff like dodging taxes, grave human rights issues, or felony charges, you might find it hard to get a passport or hop on a plane. These warrants are like red flags for travel, so it’s best to sort them out before you pack your bags.

Fugitive Warrants

Alright, now the last one is fugitive warrants – they’re the heavyweights of the warrant world. These warrants come into play when you’re wanted for a pretty serious crime in another state or even another country. They’re like a spotlight shining on you, saying “You’re not going anywhere.”

If you’ve got a fugitive warrant, you’re at risk of getting nabbed at any point during your travels – be it at the airport, a border crossing, or even after you’ve reached your destination. It’s like having a law enforcement shadow on your tail, which is why we recommend addressing these warrants before flying. 

Suggested Reading: Things Not True About DoD Travel Policy [2023 Updated Guide]

Destination Country

Each country has its own set of rules for handling people who are wanted by the law or have warrants. Some places may let you in without any hassles. However, in other countries, they could stop you at the border and send you back to your home country if you have legal issues.

Example 1: If you plan to fly from the United States to Canada and have a warrant, things might get complicated. That’s because Canada and the United States have an agreement that permits the extradition of individuals wanted for criminal activities in either country. Moreover, Canada has access to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, which holds information about unresolved warrants. This means that if you have a U.S. warrant, Canadian authorities might find out and arrest you when you arrive.

Example 2: Now, if you’re traveling from the United States to Mexico and you have a warrant, there’s a better chance you won’t get arrested. Unlike Canada, Mexico and the United States do have an extradition treaty, but it’s not as strict. And Mexico doesn’t have access to the NCIC database, and they may not acknowledge certain types of warrants issued by U.S. courts. In short, if you have a warrant in the United States, the odds of Mexican authorities finding out and detaining you at the border are lower.

Risks of Traveling With a Warrant

Taking a flight with a warrant can be very unsafe, especially if it’s related to a serious crime or spans multiple areas of law enforcement. Doing so might bring about a range of problems and results, like:

Getting Arrested at the Airport

You might get arrested at the airport by local or national police who can look up a list of people with warrants. This could occur before you board the plane or after, depending on how strict the airport’s security is.

For example – if you have a warrant in the United States and you attempt to take a domestic flight, TSA agents or airport police can inspect your ID and background, and this could lead to trouble.

Airport Entry or Exit Issues

One significant risk of traveling with a warrant is being denied entry or exit at the airport. When flying internationally with an active warrant, immigration or customs checks might pose problems.

For example: Some countries, like Canada, have strict rules about admitting individuals with criminal records or warrants. If they discover your warrant, you could be refused entry or exit, potentially leading to complications or detention.

Sent Back to your Country

Another danger of traveling with a warrant is that you could be sent back to the country where the warrant was issued. This happens based on the kind of crime and the agreement between the countries.

For example – According to the European Arrest Warrant system, if you have a warrant in France and you attempt to travel to Germany, they could send you back. 

Conclusion

Flying with a warrant is a complex and risky situation. Whether you can fly with it depends on factors like the type of flight, your destination, and how serious the warrant is. If you do travel with a warrant, you might face bigger problems, like getting sent back to face the law or having trouble at borders. So, it’s a good idea to talk to a legal expert and deal with the warrant before trying to travel by plane.