travel warrant meaning

Rail Travel mid 20th Century

Pre-digital travel warrants and passes for service personnel, UK

Travel warrants and passes for absence for men and women in the forces didn't significantly change until the digital era. In fact, it was more or less the same for most of the 20th century, including in the First and Second World Wars . This page describes the system in detail with illustrations and explains why it was necessary. The page concludes with historical notes.

What travel warrants were

A travel warrant, also known as a rail warrant or travel voucher, was a voucher that was issued to an individual or group of service personnel for travel on the railways.

Why travel warrants were issued

Travel warrants could be issued for several reasons, e.g. for travel to a training course or for leave. It was rare, in my experience, for a senior officer to allow travel warrants for other circumstances unless there was a family death.

Travel warrants for leave were always to a pre-designated location which was usually the area of the family home. The distance was immaterial.

How travel warrants were issued

Travel warrants were administered from what was known as a Registry. There was one in every unit of the RAF - a unit being one's place of work. When I first joined the RAF my first unit was the Royal Air Force College Cranwell; my last was a fighter squadron at Conningsby. A registry was staffed by a sergeant, a corporal and one or more Senior Aircrafts Men.

Usually the corporal was in charge of issuing a warrant. He did so in response to receiving an order, also known as a signal, usually from a type of teleprinter. He gave the travel warrant to the person about to travel and submitted carbon copies at intervals to Station Head Quarters for accounting purposes. New recruits had their travel warrants posted to them.

From travel warrant to train ticket

It was a good idea to get to the railway station early with one's travel warrant as the ticket office had to translate it into tickets. Many years ago, as a sergeant in the cadets, I had to present a warrant for myself and about 20 other cadets to travel from Birmingham to a remote station in Oxford. The ticket clerk was unfamiliar with the warrant system and we nearly missed the train!

A travel warrant ticket for a member of Her Majesty's Forces travelling on leave. It is date-stamped on the back as 4th January 1954 and is courtesy of Tony Harris.

Note from the webmaster

Because the ticket in the photo is marked THIRD CLASS it shows that ordinary forces personnel were not expected to travel in much comfort. As explained on the page about classes of train travel, third class travel was very basic and was already being phased out while I was growing up in the 1940s. As far as I know, my working class family never even had the option of travelling third class after WW2. Yet this ticket is dated as late as 1954. It is for Southern Railways, so possibly different lines had different policies.

I remember passenger train tickets being pale green. So has this one faded over time or were forces' tickets a different colour, as were platform tickets ? If you can clarify or add anything, please contact me.

Warrants and reimbursement for non-rail travel

In my experience there never were bus warrants. If you had to take a bus after the train, you kept the ticket and submitted it with a travel claim (Form 1771). You could also detail timings so you could be reimbursed for missed meals and what were called "incidentals". Eventually you might see the money again!

I do recall a travel order for a ferry. On one occasion I was issued one for a ferry that had ceased to run about 10 years earlier! The system was also notorious for trying to issue rail warrants long after that particular line was closed!

Passes for absence issued with travel warrants

For much of the 20th century, service personnel were expected to travel in uniform. This meant that they could be instantly recognised, so might be accused of being Absent Without Leave (AWOL) - something not uncommon in wartime when so many men had been forced to join up. To meet such an eventuality, the services issued passes along with their travel warrants. These were for inspection by any authority to show that the individual concerned was absent from his or her place of work with the agreement of the commanding officer. (Nowadays service personnel are not required to travel in uniform as it singles them out for terrorist attacks.)

1940s army pass for being absent from quarters for the purpose of travelling to Rome. Provided by Alan Bennett from his father's papers.

1944 army pass for being absent from quarters/duty for the purpose of travelling to Cairo. Provided by Alan Bennett from his father's papers.

A pass can be for annual leave, for 24 or 48 hours for a day or a weekend off, or just for part of a day away from the base. Nowadays a pass is usually referred to as a leave pass and is permission to be away from ones place of duty.

Passes were even required for leaving the camp/barracks just for an evening. In the armed forces, every second of every day belonged - and still belongs - to someone else. So if you were off-base for an evening, you had better have had permission!

Both warrants and passes are a feature of military life, regardless of whether a war is on.

H istorical note on military travel warrants and passes

During my time in the RAF I had access to archival material from the 1950s which confirmed that the travel warrant system was more or less as described above. Several of the post- World War Two national servicemen mention travel warrants on this website. My father's leave passes mention travel by warrant and are dated earlier still, namely 1941. I also understand that T E Lawrence (of Lawrence of Arabia fame) mentions being given a travel warrant when he was posted to RAF Cranwell which must have been in the mid-1920s. So the warrant system must have been around from at the least the Great War if not before.

One of my older friends was a pay clerk in the RAF in the early 1950s and he confirmed that its administrative systems were pretty much the same down the ages, the only real change came with the digital era. In particular pay then started being paid into bank accounts rather than in a pay parade .

If you can add anything to this page or provide a photo, I would be pleased if you would contact me.

sources: early 20th century material       sources: ww2 home front and other material      contact the webmaster/author/researcher/editor      privacy policy

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Definition of warrant

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of warrant  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

• authorization
• concurrence
• green light
• licence

Examples of warrant in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'warrant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English waraunt protector, warrant, from Anglo-French warant, garant , of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werēnto guarantor, werēn to warrant; akin to Old High German wāra trust, care — more at very entry 2

Middle English, waranten to act as protector, guarantee, from Anglo-French warentir, garantir , from warant

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing warrant

• sign one's own death warrant
• search warrant
• bench warrant
• chief warrant officer
• death warrant
• warrant officer

Dictionary Entries Near warrant

warrantable

Cite this Entry

“Warrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warrant. Accessed 3 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of warrant.

Kids Definition of warrant  (Entry 2 of 2)

Legal Definition

Legal definition of warrant.

called also anticipatory warrant

Note: A criminal arrest warrant must be issued based upon probable cause. Not all arrests require an arrest warrant.

called also fugitive from justice warrant

called also search and seizure warrant

Note: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires that a search warrant for a criminal investigation be issued only upon a showing of probable cause, as established usually by a sworn affidavit. The search warrant has to specify the premises and persons to be searched as well as what is being searched for. Not all searches require a search warrant. Warrantless searches are permitted when they are of a kind that the courts have found to be reasonable (as by being limited) or when they are prompted by a level of suspicion or belief (as reasonable suspicion or probable cause) that is consistent with the level of intrusion of the search. Some searches have been found to be so intrusive that a court hearing is required before the search is permitted.

Legal Definition of warrant  (Entry 2 of 2)

Anglo-French warant garant protector, guarantor, authority, authorization, of Germanic origin

Transitive verb

Anglo-French warentir garantir , from garant protector, guarantor

More from Merriam-Webster on warrant

Nglish: Translation of warrant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of warrant for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about warrant

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UponArriving

Does TSA Check For Arrest Warrants? (Domestic and International) [2022]

Traveling through airports and flying can already be a stressful experience for many people. But flying when you know you have a warrant out for your arrest can elevate that stress to a different level.

Many people wonder if they can get through TSA with outstanding warrants and what the risks are. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about whether or not TSA checks for warrants and what your risk level is for getting arrested.

Table of Contents

Does TSA check for warrants?

TSA does not check for outstanding warrants but that does not mean that it is always a good idea to fly when you have a warrant.

Below, you’ll find out that the risk of flying with a warrant is not so much about breaking the law by traveling but it is more about all of the opportunities that arise allowing you to be found with an outstanding warrant.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What is the TSA’s job?

Once you understand what the TSA is, you may feel better about getting through security without getting arrested for an outstanding warrant.

TSA stands for “Transportation Security Administration” and the purpose is to “strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce.”

TSA is concerned about threats (mostly terroristic) and not with enforcing laws and penal codes.

They want to make sure people are not bringing explosives on board and they — for the most part — could not care less about minor warrants.

More importantly, TSA agents are not law-enforcement officers which means that they do not have the authority to arrest passengers at security checkpoints (it’s worth noting the Federal Air Marshal Service is a part of the TSA and they have much more authority than standard TSA agents.)

Air marshals aside, you don’t need to worry about getting arrested by a TSA agent. However, they can refer you to law-enforcement and that is what you need to worry about with an outstanding warrant.

Related: TSA Approved Locks Guide (Worth It?)

Why you might get arrested when flying with a warrant

There are a few situations that could cause you to get arrested at the airport if you have an outstanding warrant. Basically, any type of close encounter you have with law enforcement could mean them running a database search on your name and discovering that you have an outstanding warrant.

Verifying identification

If you for some reason forget to bring your ID and you need to go through the identification verification process there is a good chance that it will be discovered that you have an outstanding warrant. If that happens then you can be referred to law-enforcement and arrested.

Caught up in a dispute

If you get yourself into some type of altercation such as a dispute with a staff member at check-in or some sort of unfortunate scuffle with a fellow passenger, the police may get involved.

Also, if you are (majorly) holding up the security line or refusing to go through the security checkpoint you could be inviting an encounter with law enforcement officers.

It’s worth noting that while TSA does not have power to arrest you , they can detain you while they wait for law-enforcement to arrive in situations like this.

In some cases you might just be a bystander but the police may request for you to give a statement and that might be how you get involved.

Banned items

If you get caught trying to bring prohibited items through airport security such as a firearm , sharp object , or explosive then it is very possible that you will be referred to law enforcement.

If you are caught with illegal drugs authorities could be called on you as well. However, it is pretty rare for authorities to be called on you for small quantities of drugs that are not dangerous.

Read: TSA Marijuana Rules Explained

Sometimes TSA agents are given a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) notification and if you fit the description of what they were looking for, they could stop you to investigate — police could follow.

There is also a possibility that someone could be aware of your travel plans and decide to tip off the law regarding your whereabouts. If the police deem it worth their time they could be waiting for you at the airport.

If for some reason your name is ran against a database where you have an outstanding warrant then you could run into trouble. For low level domestic offenses this seems to be very rare.

The reason is that it would take an incredible amount of resources for airline staff members to run every passenger’s name against a database for a background check.

There would be a sizable group of people who have outstanding warrants over things like parking tickets and trying to arrest all of those individuals would likely interfere too much with airport logistics to make it worth it.

So this outcome would be extremely rare but if you are traveling through an airport with a warrant I think you should always be prepared for the prospect of getting arrested even if it is rare.

Serious offenses

If you have an outstanding warrant for a federal offense or a serious state offense then there is a much higher likelihood that you could be arrested when you show up at the airport.

It’s possible that a detective could be tracking down your movements and that they will simply be waiting for you at the airport when you depart or when you arrive.

International travel

When you are traveling internationally you should expect your name to be checked against databases for at risk individuals including those with outstanding warrants.

Your name could be flagged before you even arrive at the airport since in many cases you need to apply for a visa to get to your destination. The visa application process will typically involve a background check which could pick up on your outstanding warrant.

In other cases if you have been charged with serious offenses your passport may have been revoked which obviously limits your ability to leave the country.

Situations where you may be denied a passport include :

• international drug traffickers
• subjected to a federal arrest 
• forbidden by probation, parole, or a court order to leave the country 
• owning some money in child support (for example in the US if you owe $2,500) 
• imprisoned or under a supervised release program for felony drug charges relating to distributing a controlled substance.

Your name could also be checked at the time that you are departing the country or it could be checked whenever you come back through Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The agents at immigration are different from TSA agents in that they have the authority to arrest you.

Will you be extradited?

It’s one thing to be detained and quite another matter to be arrested and extradited.

Getting extradited is a pretty complex process because it varies based on the process and rules of the jurisdiction with the arrest warrant.

Many arrest warrants are never reported to the FBI’s National Criminal Information Center (NCIC), which means that a lot of arrest warrants are never even detected by agencies outside of the state or region where the warrant exists. (According to the  FBI, approximately 60 percent of all warrants have an FBI identification number.)

If an arrest warrant is reported to the NCIC and detected by the state you are in, the state holding the arrest warrant still may not want you extradited, especially if it’s for a minor crime.

So it is possible that your arrest warrant could somehow get detected but you are still released because there is no extradition process initiated. This could still cause you to be detained and go through a pretty painful and long process though so be aware of that.

On the other hand, some states will extradite you from another state, often when the state you’re in is nearby or bordering the state with the warrant. This could result in you getting transported in the back of a police van while being shackled up even if your warrant is for a minor offense.

What about ID scans?

TSA agents typically do not scan your ID.

Usually, they scan your boarding pass which will pull up information such as if you have TSA Pre-Check , or if you are subject to something like enhanced security screening also known as SSSS (these markers are already visible on your boarding pass).

When they ask for your ID what they are doing is verifying that your name matches the name on the boarding pass, that your identification is not fake or expired, and that you look like the person on your ID.

They might also be scanning your ID with an ultraviolet light to look for any phony identification elements found on your ID but that depends on the type of ID you have.

So they are not tapping into some database for outstanding warrants when you handover your boarding pass and ID.

However, it’s worth noting that there are new devices being used such as the credential authentication technology (CAT) in certain airports where they do scan your ID.

According to Bart Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Upstate New York:

“The technology enhances detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent documents such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification.”

There isn’t any mention about checking your name against the database for outstanding warrants but it’s worth noting that ID scans may be more prevalent in the future.

At a standard security checkpoint TSA agents do not scan your ID but some airports utilize new equipment that allows the agents to scan your ID.

Yes, you can still get through airport security and fly with a misdemeanor warrant. However, traveling through an airport with an outstanding warrant will always carry a risk that you could be arrested.

No, TSA agents do not have the authority to arrest you.

No, TSA agents do not carry weapons including guns, pepper spray, or even handcuffs.

Although I would always recommend handling your warrants so that you can travel stress-free it is possible to fly domestically and get through TSA security even though you have an outstanding warrant. However, flying internationally can be a different story and the risk is certainly higher that you could get caught up with the law in that case.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

13 comments

There are MANY airports that now scan the IDs and not the boarding passes.

Thank you so much for this article. I just kept picturing them coming to my seat to come and grab me for a warrant I haven’t cleared up yet. On top of that, it’s Christmas time, which I know they are super busy and why would they want little old me but still, im freaked out about going and even praying I get Covid so I can miss this memorial im going to but looks like I’m stuck going. Every time I start to feel nervous, im just going to read this article again. Thank you!

I’ve had a bogus warrant, from when I lived in IL, I live in FL now !!!! I was scared to fly, however, my atty said they don’t check!!! FL, said they don’t care about out of state warrants, (as long is it’s not Murder or Rape!!) They were correct, I had no problem flying from FL to IL to take care of the warrants! It scared the shit out of me, but was ok! I can’t say you can’t fly, but it worked out for me!! I just recently got off a Cruise Ship, the security was the most lax I’ve ever seen, when I was detained on my last cruise, they had scanned my ID, and finally said, I needed to take care of warrants in IL, it was Sunday!!! This last cruise, the people at immigration, only looked at my FL, ID, then asked for birth certificate, (which I had) This last cruise was March of 2022, the customs agent only visually looked at my ID and BC and flagged me thru!! WTF?? If I were an illegal going through, I would have been cleared instantly!!! WTF? The current president has very lax immigration, and returning US citizens policy!!! (Let’s go Brandon) Great to know illegals, can get more benefits than US Citizens, who busted their ass for years, then have to fight for, and denied benefits!!! Let’s go Brandon!!

This article answered majority of my questions I had plus some. Although still trying to figure out what exactly I need to do so I can fly without any kind of identification? Or if I can use a temporary ID.

I was able to fly with an active warrant and a temp paper ID. I also had to show them my Medical Insurance card as a back up form of ID. The y escorted me through security, had to do a thorough pat down and physically look in my carryon, but after that I was fine and flew easy peasy

I was prev charged with a misd and assigned to informal probation. I am wondering if these (2) will be a concern to fly internationally?

Unlikely. I had the same problem. After probation, it never came up.

I had a balance six hundred dollars on a traffic ticket in South Carolina from 10 years ago and have lived in Hawaii since and from what I understand Hawaii does not extradite back to South Carolina for misdemeanor warrants because of the cost is so expensive,just to collect 600.00 dollars and i couldn’t afford to pay the rest of the fine.

I have an active felony warrant in my small county in Minnesota for about a year. (Missed court cuz I had COVID) scared to handle it cuz of the deep corruption, the original charges set me up by the police. Anyways gonna fly tomorrow to Florida…. Is this a good idea??

I hear that felony warrants you shouldn’t travel. I could be wrong im supposed to go to florida as well with misdemeanor warrant any update did you end up going?

you’d be good had Felony warrants for years flew in and out of the home state where it was issued too. They wouldn’t even take me in from a county over when i was detained once for it lol

Got a felony warrant pending in Colorado. Need to fly for work amd family. Stressed out. Any issues at DIA or flying domestically?

I have bench warrant do y’all think I’m good?

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Legal Dictionary

The Law Dictionary for Everyone

While most people associate the term warrant with a legal document that allows police to search a specified place, the term actually has a more general meaning. A warrant is a written authorization, issued by a judge or magistrate, that permits a specified act that would otherwise be illegal, as it would otherwise violate a citizen’s rights. The warrant, sometimes referred to as a “writ,” protects the individual executing the warrant from civil liability for carrying out the instructions in the writ. To explore this concept, consider the following warrant definition.

Definition of Warrant

• An authorization, justification, or sanction
• A written document, issued by a court, authorizing law enforcement officers to make an arrest, seize certain property, or conduct a search.

What is a Warrant

A warrant is a writ issued by a court, giving law enforcement the authority to perform acts that may be outside of their normal scope. Warrants that are issued by U.S. courts include search warrants, arrest warrants, and execution warrants. In addition to courts, government entities, such as state and federal legislatures, may issue warrants, as they have the authority to require attendance of their members. This is referred to as a “call of the house.”

Search Warrants and the Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure . This means that law enforcement officials do not have the authority to search people, or their property, without a just cause. While there are some circumstances that create a reasonable belief that an individual is breaking the law, giving law enforcement officers the right to perform an immediate search, in most cases, the officers must present their belief and evidence to the court to obtain a search warrant .

This procedure provides citizens with an extra layer of protection of their rights, requiring that a judge consider whether the officers have a valid reason to search an individual or his property before issuing a warrant.

Law enforcement officials do not need a search warrant in certain circumstances, such as:

• A limited search of an individual’s outer clothing for weapons – a police must have a reasonable suspicion to “stop and frisk” the individual.
• Border search of people’s clothing, baggage, vehicles, and cargo, made by customs officers
• A search of an area in which contraband , or other illegal object, is in plaint view of law enforcement officers, and that the item is illegal
• Search of an item or property when consent has been given by the individual in control of the item or property
• Search before a warrant could be property obtained, when there is a risk of imminent destruction of the evidence
• Search of an individual when he is placed under arrest – this has the goal of protecting officers from potential harm
• Emergency search – when officers have a reasonable belief that someone is in danger, such as if someone is heard screaming from inside a home, or from the trunk of a car

The Fourth Amendment’s protect does not apply if the person or property being searched does not have a legitimate expectation of privacy.

For example :

If an individual leaves criminal evidence on the front lawn of his home, he has no expectation of privacy, as anyone passing by on a public street or sidewalk can view it. Law enforcement officials can seize such evidence without a warrant.

Similarly, a warrant must be obtained to search through, and listen to, messages on a suspect’s phone. However, if the suspect has left voicemail messages, or text messages, on another person’s phone, he has no expectation of privacy, as he voluntarily left that message for others to read or listen to. If the other person provides these messages to law enforcement or prosecutors, they can be used against the suspect, and no warrant is required.

Difference Between Arrest and Search Warrants

Warrants allow law enforcement officials to perform acts typically considered illegal. There is a difference between arrest and search warrants however, as each one provides officers with certain specific powers. Both types of warrant require law enforcement officials to present convincing probable cause to the court before they will be issued. Both arrest and search warrants must be executed in accordance with the law, as well as the instructions in the warrant, as a violation of a warrant has serious consequences.

Arrest Warrant

An arrest warrant allows police to identify, locate, and arrest an individual charged with a crime. An arrest warrant is typically issued after charges have been filed against a suspect, and remains valid for as long as it takes to apprehend the suspect. A bench warrant is a type of arrest warrant that is issued by a judge when a suspect, who was previously arrested and released on bail , fails to make a scheduled court appearance.

Search Warrant

A search warrant gives law enforcement officials authority to enter a car, a home, land, or other structure, to search for evidence connected with a crime. The property that can be searched must be specified in the warrant. Sometimes, a search warrant specifies the item, or type of evidence, to be searched for, limiting what the police can seize. Unlike arrest warrants, search warrants are commonly issued before criminal charges are filed against a suspect. Search warrants are valid for a very limited period of time.

Other Types of Warrant

There are many types of warrant used by the judicial system in the United States, though some are more common than others. Each type of warrant authorizes a very specific act, and it is important that law enforcement officials execute warrants according to their direction in order to remain within the bounds of the law.

Bench Warrant

A bench warrant is a type of arrest warrant, issued by a judge when an individual fails to appear in court at his scheduled date and time. A bench warrant may also be issued when an individual is held in contempt of court , giving an order to law enforcement to immediately take the individual into custody.

Extradition Warrant

In many cases, suspects are arrested in a state other than where he committed a crime for which an arrest warrant was issued. An extradition warrant gives law enforcement the authority to transfer the suspect to the state where he committed the crime. The suspect stays in police custody until he has been transferred.

Dispossessory Warrant

A dispossessory warrant, also known as an “ eviction warrant,” is a civil warrant that gives a landlord permission to enter the property, after a tenant has been evicted, or otherwise vacated the residence, to remove his personal property.

Capais Warrant

There are two types of capais warrant. A criminal capais warrant is an arrest warrant issued when an individual who has a guilty judgment, whether through a guilty plea , or court process, fails to pay a fine , or to complete some other condition ordered by the court. Once an individual has been arrested subject to a criminal capais warrant, he must either complete the jail sentence, or pay the fine in full to get out early.

A civil capais warrant is an order to apprehend an individual, though rather than taking him to jail, law enforcement is directed to deliver him to the court. Civil capais warrants are sometimes issued when individuals repeatedly refuse to comply with the court’s orders in a civil matter.

How to Check if You Have a Warrant

A person does not have to be a member of law enforcement or a government entity to check for warrants. Individuals can do a warrant search to find out if the police have a warrant to arrest them, or to discover what shows up on their criminal history during a background check, by running a public records search on themselves. There are a number of online resources for background checks and warrant searches, which are commonly checked during pre-employment screenings, and renter screenings.

When using an online resource to do a warrant search, it is necessary to enter some basic identifying information, including the individual’s full name, and the city and state where he resides. While there are many privately operated background check websites, they charge for reports, and they do not guarantee that their reports are accurate and up to date.

It is possible to check for warrants by contacting the county courthouse or law enforcement agency where the individual lives. Many agencies require that the individual appear in person to obtain a detailed warrant check, but some will give limited information over the phone. An individual who does have a warrant risks being arrested if he appears at a law enforcement building or courthouse.

Supreme Court Rules on Warrantless Searches

In 2009, police arrested Walter Fernandez after learning he was connected to a robbery they were investigating. At the time of his arrest, Fernandez refused to let police enter the apartment without a warrant. The police arrested him and returned to his apartment an hour later. Fernandez’s girlfriend was at the residence when police arrived, and she allowed them access to the apartment, even though they did not have a search warrant, giving them both verbal and written consent to search.

Once they entered the apartment, police found a knife, a shotgun, and other gang-related materials that led to additional charges. During Fernandez’s trial , his defense team moved to have the evidence suppressed, claiming it was seized in a warrantless search. The court denied to motion to suppress the evidence, and Fernandez was found guilty, and sentenced to 14 years in prison . He appealed on the basis that the court denied his request to suppress evidence that was obtained illegally. The California Court of Appeals for the Second District affirmed the conviction, stating that, since the co-tenant consented to a warrantless search, the evidence need not be suppressed.

The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that if the occupants of a dwelling do not agree on whether to admit police without a warrant, the occupant refusing must be physically present. This means that Fernandez did not have the right to keep police out, once he was removed from the premises. This holds true, even if the police remove the occupant who is refusing the search, as long as the individual was detained or arrested lawfully.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. also stated that the police had no need to obtain a warrant, as when they arrived at the residence the first time, having followed Fernandez from the scene of a robbery, his girlfriend came to the door crying, with injuries, and blood on her clothes. This put the situation into the category of an emergency search, as allowing Fernandez to deny entrance to the police to help this domestic violence victim,

Related Legal Terms and Issues

• Authority – The right or power to make decisions, to give orders, or to control something or someone.
• Civil Lawsuit – A lawsuit brought about in court when one person claims to have suffered a loss due to the actions of another person.
• Contempt of Court – A willful act of disobedience to an order of the court; deliberately being rude or disrespectful to the judge or the court.
• Felony – A criminal offense punishable by a year or more in jail.
• Perpetrator – A person who commits an illegal or criminal act.
• Scope – Relevant range of authority or practice, or range of control through a contract.
• Trial – A formal presentation of evidence before a judge and jury for the purpose of determining guilt or innocence in a criminal case, or to make a determination in a civil matter.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of warrant in English

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warrant verb ( MAKE NECESSARY )

• be a question of doing something idiom
• box ticking
• business-critical
• have occasion to do something idiom
• if need be idiom
• if/when push comes to shove idiom
• indispensable
• necessary evil
• necessitate
• symbiotically

warrant verb ( CERTAIN )

• be on your honour idiom
• breach of contract
• commit someone to something
• cross my heart (and hope to die) idiom
• deliver on something
• promises, promises! idiom
• restrictive covenant

warrant noun ( DOCUMENT )

• advance directive
• driving licence
• gender recognition certificate
• get-out clause
• Green Paper
• proceedings
• recertification

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

warrant noun ( REASON )

• argumentation
• ascribe something to something
• explanation
• explication
• extenuating
• extenuation
• talk your way out of something idiom
• unclarified
• warrantable
• warrantably

warrant | American Dictionary

Warrant verb [t] ( make necessary ), warrant noun [c] ( document ), warrant | business english, examples of warrant, translations of warrant.

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If there is a warrant for your arrest , you want to deal with it as quickly as possible. Depending on whether it is a provincial warrant or a Canada-wide warrant , police have the power to arrest you at any time and in any place within the jurisdiction that issued the warrant. Police have access to information about you through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) . This is a national database that allows police the ability to find information on almost every person, including warrant status. If police determine there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be arrested and taken into custody. This is not something you want to have happen at the start of your vacation. 

Whether or not you can travel on an airline with an outstanding warrant depends in large part on where you are travelling. 

Travelling on Domestic Flights

Generally speaking, you should have few issues travelling within Canada if there is a warrant for your arrest.

When checking in online or at the airport kiosk, airlines don’t automatically check passenger names against databases to determine if there are warrants. Ticketing agents or checkpoint staff have neither the time nor capability to run such checks.

This applies even when you pass through security. It is unlikely you will be stopped because the TSA has no access to databases that flag warrants against passenger names.

Besides, travelling domestically is not expressly prohibited for people with warrants but you do need to be aware of the potential risks and consequences.

Even though the police are not actively out looking for those with warrants, you can and will be taken to jail if you are stopped with an outstanding warrant against your name.

At the airport, you can be caught out boarding a flight if:

• Someone aware you have a warrant and knows your travel details (like a jealous ex-spouse) informs the police that you will be at the airport at a certain time on a certain date (and you will not receive a refund for your ticket).
• The TSA finds something illegal as you pass through the security checkpoint —you may be pulled aside and asked tough questions, including personal information, leading to the discovery of your arrest warrant.

Travelling on International Flights

The security procedures for international travel do involve checking databases. Depending on where you are travelling to and on which airline, it is possible that your warrant will be discovered and police will be called. If you are travelling to the United States, you generally pass through customs while still in Canada. They will run your passport and warrants will most likely appear. If there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be detained and most likely turned over to police. 

For international air travel outside of the United States, you generally pass through customs upon entry at your destination. If there is a warrant for your arrest in Canada, you will likely not be permitted entry into your destination. It is highly unlikely that you will be detained at your destination unless your charges are extremely serious. Most often, the destination country will force you to remain in the airport and board the next available flight back to Canada. Depending on the charges for which there is a warrant, they may or may not alert police in Canada that you are being returned as a result of a warrant. If that is the case, police will be waiting to arrest you when you disembark the plane.  

When can you fly with a warrant?

While you can usually board domestic flights with an outstanding warrant, the same doesn’t apply to international flights — even if you are simply intending to go on holiday.

Security personnel on international flights have access to criminal information through a national database that allows them to find information on travellers, including warrant status. If an outstanding warrant is discovered, you will likely be detained, the police will be called and you will be arrested at the airport and taken into custody.

If you are travelling to the United States, you generally pass through customs while still in Canada. Customs personnel will run your passport and warrants will most likely appear. If there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be detained and most likely turned over to the police.

For international air travel outside of the United States, you generally pass through customs upon entry at your destination. If there is a warrant for your arrest in Canada, you will likely not be permitted entry into your destination. It is highly unlikely that you will be detained at your destination unless your charges are extremely serious.

Most often, the destination country will force you to remain in the airport and board the next available flight back to Canada. Depending on the charges for which there is a warrant, the police in Canada may be alerted that you are being returned as a result of a warrant. If that is the case, police will likely be waiting to arrest you when you disembark the plane.

Who cannot fly with a warrant?

Certain convicted criminals are denied a passport and therefore cannot fly internationally. These include:

• International drug traffickers
• Those subjected to a federal arrest
• Those forbidden by probation , parole or a court order to leave the country
• Anyone owing money for child support (for example, if you owe $2,500 or more in the U.S.)
• Anyone imprisoned or under a supervised release program for felony drug offense charges relating to distributing a controlled substance

How do you find out if a warrant has been issued for your arrest?

There are three basic ways to check if there is a warrant out for your arrest in Canada: by visiting a police station in person, asking in person at the criminal court or checking with a lawyer.

More information about each of these methods can be found in our FAQ on how to know if there is a warrant for your arrest .

What if you have an arrest warrant in a different province?

In most cases, an arrest warrant applies to the province in which it is issued. There are three main exceptions:

• In the most serious cases, a Canada-wide arrest warrant may be issued. This means that you can be arrested by police officers anywhere in the country.
• When a warrant is issued by the superior court or the court of appeal, police officers anywhere in Canada can arrest and bring you into custody.
• When a warrant is issued by a provincial authority and endorsed by a court in another province, it enables the police in that province to arrest you.

The two main types of warrants issued in Canada are bench warrants and first-instance warrants. The former are issued because you failed to attend Court while the latter are for when the police charge you but cannot find you.

Either type of warrant may specify a maximum distance that police will travel to arrest you, depending on how serious the alleged related offence is.

In most cases, it is unlikely that police will travel from one side of the country to another to escort a suspect back unless it is for a serious offence. The local police will, however, have visibility of the warrant on the national database and you may be questioned about it if stopped in another province.

The Best Option: Take Care of the Warrant

If you think that there is a warrant for your arrest, the best thing you can do is deal with it. A warrant doesn’t just go away and can follow you throughout your life. In order to determine if there is a warrant for your arrest , you can attend any police station. If there is a warrant, you will be arrested on the spot. 

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Definition of warrant verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• warrant something Further investigation is clearly warranted.
• The TV appearance was so brief that it hardly warranted comment.
• They do not consider the case serious enough to warrant a government enquiry.
• warrant (somebody/something) doing something The situation scarcely warrants their/them being dismissed.
• be important enough to
• be serious enough to
• be severe enough to

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To guarantee that all official Government of Malaysia (GOM) travel on Waran Penerbangan Udara Awam (WPUA) or Waran Penerbangan Malaysia (WPM) runs smoothly and complies with the order from the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office, Wan Vacation Sdn Bhd offers the service. We act as a go-between for GOM and travel agencies to handle WPUA/WPM regulations. You may come to us with any questions about your upcoming trip.

We offer all serving government personnel this discounted rate while on duty.

When a member of the GOM personnel uses a WPUA warrant, their traveling companion receives a discount of 20% off the regular rate.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sweeping sex-trafficking inquiry: What the feds have, need to prove

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Over the last few months, a legendary name in the music world has faced a series of shocking allegations of sexual abuse.

In civil lawsuits, four women have accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape, assault and other abuses, dating back three decades. One of the allegations involved a minor. The claims sent shock waves through the music industry and put Combs’ entertainment empire in jeopardy.

Now, the hip-hop mogul’s legal troubles have worsened considerably.

Law enforcement sources told The Times that Combs is the subject of a sweeping inquiry into sex-trafficking allegations that resulted in a federal raid Monday at his estates in Los Angeles and Miami.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ L.A., Miami homes raided in sex-trafficking inquiry, sources say

Agents search Sean Combs’ Holmby Hills and Miami mansions as part of a federal inquiry into sex trafficking allegations, law enforcement sources said.

March 26, 2024

Authorities have declined to comment on the case, and Combs has not been charged with any crime. But the scene of dozens of Department of Homeland Security agents — guns drawn — searching Combs’ properties underscored the seriousness of the investigation.

At the same time as the raids, police in Miami arrested Brendan Paul, a man described in a recent lawsuit against Combs as a confidant and drug “mule.” Miami-Dade police took Paul, 25, into custody on suspicion of possession of cocaine and a controlled substance-laced candy, records show.

Paul was arrested at Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport, where TMZ posted video showing Combs walking around Monday afternoon. An affidavit reviewed by the Miami Herald alleged that police working with Homeland Security found drugs in Paul’s bag. There is nothing in Miami court records connecting Combs to Paul, who was later released on $2,500 bail.

The arrest, however, is the latest in a string of legal woes tied to Combs.

Sources with knowledge of the sex-trafficking investigation into Combs, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said federal authorities have interviewed at least three women, but it’s unclear whether any are among those who have filed suit.

Behind the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

In the wake of multiple lawsuits filed against him, former members of Combs’ inner circle told The Times that his alleged misconduct against women goes back decades.

Dec. 13, 2023

Legal experts say it could take time to build a criminal case against Combs but note that the civil suits could offer investigators a road map.

Dmitry Gorin, a former L.A. County sex-crimes prosecutor who is now in private practice, said the allegations in the lawsuits would likely have been enough for a judge to grant search warrants for Combs’ homes.

Investigators probably would seek authorization to “search for videos or photographs on any devices connected to the target ... anywhere where digital images can be found in connection to sexual conduct that would have been recorded,” Gorin said.

Shawn Holley, an attorney for Combs, did not respond to requests for comment, but Aaron Dyer, another of his lawyers, on Tuesday called the raids a “witch hunt” and “a gross overuse of military-level force.”

“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer said in a statement. “This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations.”

Combs has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Gorin and other legal experts said investigators could be focused, in part, on the sexual assault allegations involving a minor. If a minor is moved across state lines for the purpose of sex, “that is enough for at least an argument ... of sex trafficking because somebody underage cannot consent,” Gorin said.

“Sex trafficking for adults usually involves some sort of coercion or other restraints,” he said, and can be tougher to prove. Prosecutors would need to show you “encouraged somebody to engage in sexual activity for money or some other inducement.”

Coercion, he added, is not limited to threats of violence. It could involve being held against one’s will or someone simply saying, “I don’t want to participate in group sex, and now I’m being forced to.”

Homeland Security investigates most sex-trafficking operations for the federal government. Legal experts say one possibility why the agency could be involved in this case is because the women involved in the allegations against Combs could be from other countries.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sexual harassment suit includes notable music industry names

A new suit from music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones makes new, explosive claims about Combs’ alleged assaults and misconduct in granular detail, naming several prominent artists and music executives as well.

Feb. 28, 2024

Meghan Blanco, a defense attorney who has handled sexual trafficking cases, said they can be “incredibly difficult cases to prove.”

“They have [in the Combs case] convinced one or more federal magistrates they had enough probable cause for one or more search warrants,” Blanco said. “Given the scope of the investigation, it seems they are further along than most investigations.”

Combs’ legal troubles have been building for months.

His former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, the singer known as Cassie, accused him of rape and repeated physical assaults and said he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes in front of him. Joi Dickerson-Neal accused Combs in a suit of drugging and raping her in 1991, recording the attack and then distributing the footage without her consent.

Liza Gardner filed a third suit in which she claimed Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her. Hall could not be reached for comment.

Another lawsuit alleges that Combs and former Bad Boy label president Harve Pierre gang-raped and sex-trafficked a 17-year-old girl. Pierre said in a statement that the allegations were “disgusting,” “false” and a “desperate attempt for financial gain.”

After the filing of the fourth suit, Combs wrote on Instagram: “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Last month, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a federal lawsuit against Combs accusing him of sexually harassing and threatening him for more than a year. The suit includes mention of Paul in connection with “the affairs ... involving dealing in controlled substances.”

On Monday, the suit was amended to include Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as a co-defendant in the lawsuit.

Cuba Gooding Jr. added as co-defendant in Lil Rod’s lawsuit against Diddy

Cuba Gooding Jr. is added as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Record producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones accuses the actor of sexual assault.

Blanco said prosecutors “are going to look carefully for corroboration — the numbers of people accusing the person of similar acts.” Beyond that, they will be looking for videos, recordings and cellphone records that place people in the same locations or text messages or other discussions at the time of the alleged acts.

She said prosecutors are trying to build a record of incidents that happened some time ago.

Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for Ventura and another, unnamed plaintiff, said in response to reports of the search warrant issued against Combs: “We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”

Wigdor on Tuesday called his clients “courageous and credible witnesses.”

“To the extent there is a prosecution and they want our clients to testify truthfully,” he said, “I think they will and that will be damning evidence.”

The searches Monday in L.A. and Miami sparked worldwide attention.

Diddy’s ‘Love’ producer Lil Rod accuses him and associates of sexual assault, illicit behavior

Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones has filed a bombshell lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accusing the media mogul of sexually harassing and threatening him.

Feb. 27, 2024

His 17,000-square-foot Holmby Hills mansion, where Combs debuted his last album a year ago, was flooded with Homeland Security agents who gathered evidence on behalf of an investigation being run by the Southern District of New York, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the inquiry.

Two of Combs’ sons were briefly detained at the Holmby Hills property as agents searched the mansion in footage captured by FOX11 Los Angeles.

Both Blanco and Gorin said prosecutors will have to examine the accusers’ motives for coming forward and whether they are motivated by financial gain. They are sure to look for inconsistencies in any allegations, they said.

Any defense, Blanco added, will question why the accusers are only now coming forward and whether they have an incentive beyond justice.

“It comes down to credibility,” she said.

Times staff writers Stacy Perman and Nardine Saad contributed to this report.

More to Read

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex says feds ‘terrorized’ her sons, posts dramatic video of L.A. raid

April 2, 2024

Diddy returns to Instagram, amid federal probe, to celebrate Easter with youngest daughter

April 1, 2024

Feds want Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ communications, flight records in sex-trafficking probe

March 29, 2024

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Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016.

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