You should see help from an attorney in your area to help sort things out.  Old warrants crop up on people without their knowing it.  They are never really actively pursued - with an officer knocking at your door at 6 a.m. - unless they are for something huge.  They are often court in a situation just like this: a traffic violation.  Maybe the officer did not run your driver's license number at the scene before he issued the ticket and that is why it did not pop up.  But they can put you in prison if they want to so get help. It may be something very easily sorted out. Good luck.