Can I get arrested for a bench warrant from a traffic ticket?

A bench warrant traffic ticket can (and likely will) be issued for your arrest should you fail to pay your fine or appear in court on the day of a scheduled hearing regarding the ticket. While this isn't the most serious of offenses, you certainly can get arrested because of it. A warrant is a warrant, after all. 

• Bench warrants are those issued when someone fails to comply with a court requirement. Most situations regarding bench warrants aren't considered extremely severe; this is not a case in which the police will actively be searching to arrest you. The odds are very small that your traffic ticket warrant is going to lead to the cops busting down your front door.

• Nonetheless, should you interact with the police and give them opportunity to run your background check (for example, if you get pulled over for a traffic violation), this warrant will appear on your record, and you'll be arrested for it at that time.
• Bench warrants from out of state can cause complications, too. If you get (and ignore) a ticket in Texas, and you live in Washington, the warrant is nonetheless going to sit on your record. Chances are slim that Texas will pay to extradite you all the way back to face the charges, but if the two DMVs collaborate, the penalty can be passed over to your home state's department. 

The simplest way to deal with a bench warrant for a traffic ticket is to pay up before you wind up arrested. It's not a major threat, but if and when it does happen, it's going to be a large inconvenience, a major expense, and a black mark on your background. Don't go to the court house yourself to make the payment, though; the safest bet is to speak to a local lawyer and have him or her assist you in getting the fee payment where it needs to go and ensuring the warrant is cleared.