Ignoring a California traffic citation is never a good idea. Overdue fines trigger additional civil assessments, collection agency transfers, potential misdemeanor charges, and other consequences. Also, an uncontested citation can lead to an automatic conviction on your DMV driving record.
If you take no action, the court may treat your missed deadline as a guilty plea, resulting in a conviction on your record. Most moving violations, like speeding or running a red light, add one point to your driving record. That point stays for three years and can significantly raise your insurance rates. Our traffic ticket attorneys explain below what happens if you decide to ignore your traffic tickets.
Required Appearance Dates
California traffic citations specify an appearance date to address the violation in court. Before this deadline, you must pay the fine, enroll in traffic school if eligible, or formally contest the charge. Failing to respond is considered a failure to appear.
Ignoring this deadline triggers increasing penalties, which may include:
- Additional court civil assessments added to initial fines
- Transfer of unpaid balances to collection agencies
- State collection actions, such as wage garnishments
- Separate misdemeanor charges under the Vehicle Code
- Issuance of a bench warrant for your arrest
- Automatic conviction entries resulting in DMV points and higher insurance rates
Court procedures for overdue infractions vary by county. Consulting a defense lawyer helps clarify your options before penalties increase.
Civil Assessments
Failing to appear without a valid reason allows judges to add a civil assessment to your ticket. California Penal Code Section 1214.1 authorizes judges to impose penalties up to $100. Courts must issue written notice and allow a 20-day response window before adding this fee.
This notice allows you to explain why you missed your court date and request relief before extra fees attach.
Collections and Wage Garnishment
When traffic fines become overdue, court clerks can assign balances to collection agencies, which add collection fees to your total balance.
Unpaid traffic debt may be sent to the Franchise Tax Board, which can enforce collections by:
- Garnishing your wages
- Placing levies on your bank accounts
- Intercepting state tax refunds
- Seizing state payouts, such as lottery winnings
Unresolved base fines can ultimately turn into significant debts.
Failure to Appear as a Misdemeanor
Under California Vehicle Code Section 40508, willfully failing to appear is a misdemeanor crime, even if the original ticket was for a minor traffic infraction. A misdemeanor conviction can lead to criminal fines and jail time.
To prove this charge, the court must show you intentionally failed to appear. If you missed court due to a lack of notice, a change of address, or a medical emergency, you may have a defense to the charge.
While courts often handle missed court dates through civil assessments, prosecutors can file misdemeanor charges, which can come with additional fines and penalties.
Will Your License Be Suspended for Not Paying a Ticket?
Recent California law updates ended automatic driver’s license suspensions based solely on unpaid infraction fines or missed court dates.
However, ignored tickets can still put your driving privilege at risk through other DMV actions:
- Uncontested citations result in convictions. Failing to contest a ticket can lead to an automatic conviction on your public DMV driving record.
- Convictions add points to your license. The DMV will suspend your license if you accumulate 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months.
Outstanding warrants from unresolved cases can also lead to arrest if you are pulled over again.
What If You Cannot Afford to Pay?
California courts offer options for drivers facing financial hardship. Depending on your situation, you may be able to request:
- Monthly payment plans to extend your deadline over time
- Fine reductions based on an evaluation of your household income
- Community service to pay off fine balances through volunteer work
- MyCitations online petitions to request fee reductions without going to court
Requesting financial relief before your appearance deadline can prevent additional civil assessments and collection fees.
Contact a Los Angeles Traffic Ticket Lawyer for Help
If you respond to your traffic ticket on time, you could attend traffic school to keep points off your record or contest the ticket to get it dismissed. Missing the deadline closes off these options. That’s why you should contact an experienced attorney to help you understand your options.
At Fight My Ticket, our defense lawyers have spent decades protecting drivers throughout Southern California. Contact our Los Angeles traffic ticket attorneys today for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
