My question involves an arrest warrant from the State of California
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this. A few days ago I was approached by an officer for sleeping in my car. He assumed I was driving intoxicated so he ran my License to discover that I had a warrant out for my arrest. Apparently I received this ticket in the city the officer stopped me in and thats why it popped up on his computer.
I was told it was for a fix-it ticket that I never appeared for back in 2004. He told me I will have to go to the courts and pay 500 dollars.
I do not remember getting a fix-it ticket for the life of me. Also since 2004 I have purchased a new car had multiple cars registered and been pulled over for other offenses (like an illegal left turn or broken taillight) and it have never come up before.
I called my insurance and he said there is no warrant or anything that he can see. So if you would be so kind I have a couple of questions.
Is there anyway to lower the fee? I clearly missed the date and it is not because of emergency or anything like that. The car in question was donated to charity by my parents and I do not think they have the donation info anymore.
How long would a warrant like this stay in effect? Does it come under some sort of grandfather clause or will it stay in effect until I am dead?
I have no problem going to pay the fine I just want to be prepared when I go to the courthouse in a couple of days and hopefully save myself a few hundred dollars.
Thank you for your time and I really appreciate any help you can give.

