What are the consequences of failing to appear in traffic court?
When you get a traffic ticket, there will be instructions on that ticket. Usually, the instructions will allow you to mail in a fine if you so choose, which is essentially pleading guilty to the offense and accepting your penalty. The instructions will also allow you to come to court for a hearing to contest the ticket or to plea bargain down to a lesser offense if you so choose. If you don’t just send in your money and you have a hearing scheduled to appear in court, you have to go to court. Failing to appear in traffic court when you are required to be there is going to create a whole lot of legal trouble for you. The exact consequences of failing to show up in traffic court can vary by state, but there are some general things you can expect to happen: • A judgment may be issued against you for whatever it was the offense was, and you will be ordered to pay a fine (sometimes a larger one than you otherwise would have) • You could have your car booted or impounded, especially if you h
