The Keyboard Detective

BYOD: Check for Open Arrest Warrants in Florida

A criminal background check usually only shows you whether that new employee or potential boyfriend has been arrested or convicted of a crime. Open arrest warrants might not show up. Fortunately, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has a handy online tool for checking.

The Public Access System allows you to put in a name, nickname, sex, race, and date of birth or approximate age to look up outstanding warrants. If you get a hit, the system will tell you what county holds the warrant, usually what the charge is, and sometimes which law enforcement agency.

The system is limited because it's voluntary and not all counties participate. Also, the warrants listed are often misdemeanors or lesser felony offenses. That makes sense, of course. Cops wouldn't want to alert a murder suspect to an outstanding warrant before before they could serve it.

The PAS also has other features that allow you to search for missing persons and all kinds of stolen property, from guns to cars. Before you buy a used item, it might be a good idea to run its serial number or VIN through the system just to make sure it's OK.