If you’re a criminal with outstanding charges, flying can be a challenge. While a bench warrant or misdemeanor charge will likely blow off, felony charges may result in an arrest and denial of your travel.
The question: can you fly with a warrant is an important one, and there are several scenarios to consider. Read on to find out more about what you can and cannot do.
Domestic Flights
If you have a warrant and plan to fly domestically, there should be few problems. However, if you plan to travel internationally, you may face additional scrutiny.
Typically, TSA does not check passenger names against databases that list people with outstanding warrants before allowing them to board a flight. This is because it would be a resource-intensive, expensive project.
The only employees who have the authority to run checks for warrants are law enforcement personnel.
So, if you have an outstanding warrant and you want to fly, be sure that you take care of it before you leave the country.
It is also advisable to consult with your lawyer before you board a plane to make sure that you are not violating any laws or regulations in the countries you are visiting. This will help you avoid delays, penalties, and other potential issues that might arise.
International Flights
If you have an active warrant for a crime, you may not be able to fly with a passport. This is because your name will appear on a list of passengers that is kept by the airline.
International flights are a little more tricky as countries have different laws and regulations, so you should make sure to read the travel rules of any destination before you leave.
Warrants can be an issue on domestic flights, but not international ones. Airport staff don’t have time to search for warrants so they don’t even try to find out if you have one.
However, if you get into a dispute at the airport or you have some sort of altercation with the security personnel your warrant could come up in the background check and you’ll be arrested. While this is very rare, it’s still something to be aware of.
No-Fly List
The No-Fly List is a small subset of the Terrorist Screening Database (also known as the terrorist watchlist). This database contains information about people who may pose a threat to national security.
The Terrorist Screening Database is managed by the FBI. Those on the No-Fly List are prevented from boarding aircraft that fly in, to, from or over the U.S.
This list includes a number of individuals who have been linked to violent extremist groups. The list has recently been leaked online.
One of the victims on the list was Robert Paul Rundo, founder of the violent white nationalist Rise Above Movement (RAM).
While he was cleared from the No-Fly List after a lengthy legal battle, it remains possible that RAM members could be added to other secret lists or negative information about them could wind up persisting on databases maintained by foreign governments. This could put them at risk for a variety of issues, including flight delays and lost luggage.
TSA Check
As a traveler, you know the hassles of airport security screenings can add up. Your time is precious, and you want to ensure that you arrive at your destination in good health.
Fortunately, TSA has developed a number of programs that help travelers pass through security faster and easier, such as the TSA PreCheck program. In addition, TSA offers a program that lets passengers quickly and easily move through customs checkpoints overseas, called Global Entry.
TSA's screening procedures are developed in response to information on threats. This includes intelligence analysis, behavior detection, explosives detection canine teams and regulatory enforcement. TSA's risk-based approach allows the agency to adapt to changes in travel patterns and evolving threats. It also allows TSA to deploy state-of-the-art technologies, such as AIT, while still ensuring that all passengers receive appropriate screening.