If left unchecked, traffic tickets can easily start to pile up. It is possible to lose track of a few of those until the deadline for payment passes.
In such cases, what started as a simple traffic violation may lead to added costs and, in some cases, a new charge.
However, it does not necessarily mean that judges in California go around issuing warrants of arrest for unpaid parking tickets.
California no longer suspends driver's licenses for failing to pay traffic fines (since 2017), and since January 1, 2023, courts no longer notify the DMV when a driver fails to appear on a traffic ticket. But missing a court date can still lead to a civil assessment (an added fee) or a separate misdemeanor charge for failing to appear under Vehicle Code 40508.
Specific circumstances may be different, though, which is why offenders facing jail time for traffic violations need to call a good lawyer as soon as possible. They can also help with situations like how long can police hold my phone without a warrant in CA?
Goss Law is ready to assist all Sacramento drivers in this situation.
Is Jail Time a Possibility for Traffic Violations in California?
While jail time is possible in such cases, it is usually not because of failure to pay traffic tickets alone. Such a small traffic violation can usually be resolved by paying a fine.
What usually happens is that after being issued a traffic ticket by a law enforcement officer, some people may choose to ignore it or forget all about it.
In California, traffic tickets are a huge source of revenue for the state, meaning the fines can be quite high. As such, the lowest an offender may be asked to pay is $65, but some offences may require up to $825.
If these fines are not paid, offenders may be required to pay an additional fee, known as civil assessment. This can cost up to $100.
After traffic tickets and additional fines have gone unpaid for a while, what may eventually result in jail time is failure to appear in court. This is what causes a warrant of arrest to be placed on the defendant.
Offenders can face jail time of up to six months in some cases, depending on the severity of their offenses and the amount owed for traffic fines. Additional penalties of up to $1,000 in fines may also be imposed.
Do You Always Have to Go to Court for Traffic Tickets?
Every traffic ticket that is issued to offenders in California comes with a court date specified. Unless there is some other issue complicating the matter, such as a traffic accident, the driver can simply pay the traffic ticket, in which case the court date may be treated as the deadline for payment.
By the time the court date arrives, if the unpaid traffic tickets are still pending, the driver will have to go before a judge. If they don’t show up in court, it will result in a bench warrant being issued for the offender's arrest. The longer time passes before going to court, the worse the circumstances may become. For more information, a criminal defense attorney in Sacramento may be able to help.
How to Handle Unpaid Traffic Tickets
Unpaid traffic tickets need to be handled as soon as possible, and here are a few ways to do that. Note that parking tickets and traffic tickets are handled differently: parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, while traffic tickets are handled in court.
Pay the Ticket Fines
The easiest route to take is to simply pay the traffic ticket. In some cases, drivers may feel wronged because they think the traffic ticket was unjust.
However, even in cases where this may be true, proving it may not be so easy. The risk of incurring further fines and perhaps winding up with a criminal record is not worth it.
Request Community Service
If the driver does not have enough money to cover all their unpaid tickets, they can request the court to offer community service instead.
The court will decide how much community service will be enough according to the size of their debt.
Try Traffic School
Another option that is possible under California law is traffic school. Eligible drivers with a moving violation may attend traffic school to keep the point off their driving record. Traffic school does not apply to parking tickets, and it does not cancel the fine. The driver must ask the court for this option.
Request a Hearing
In cases where the driver strongly feels that a ticket was issued in error or unjustly, they can contest it. A traffic ticket is contested in court by the date on the ticket or court notice. A parking ticket is contested with the agency that issued it, starting with a request for an initial review, generally within 21 days of the ticket (Vehicle Code 40215).
Consider a Payment Plan for the Traffic Ticket
If the courts uphold the traffic ticket and the driver does not have enough funds to settle it, a payment plan may be arranged. This will allow the offender to pay off their debt little by little.
Seek Legal Advice
When all else fails, and the situation feels overwhelming, hiring a good traffic lawyer may be the best solution. Being charged with failure to appear in court can have serious consequences in California.
A lawyer can help with options for dealing with the problem, including a failure to appear charge or a debt sent to collections. They can also help with questions like how long do you have to turn yourself in after a warrant in CA?
A good attorney can help in the following ways:
- Offer a free consultation to determine the severity of the charges
- Devise a feasible plan to either pay or challenge the tickets
- Contact the court before the dealing to appear in court passes
- Fight to avoid jail time in cases where the offender is being charged with failure to appear in court
- Navigate the intricate web of California law
Goss Law is Ready to Help
Drivers do not need any blemishes on their driving record for simple traffic tickets. These are best dealt with as soon as they are issued. However, if they forget and the situation escalates, a good lawyer may be the only solution.
Attorney Blair Goss is available for a free case review at the Goss Law office in Sacramento.
Need help with a case in Sacramento? Read about my criminal defense work, or tell me what happened.
This post is general information about California law, not legal advice about your situation. Laws change, and every case is different. For advice about your case, talk to a lawyer.