We’ve all been there – you get pulled over for speeding or an illegal turn and the officer hands you a ticket. You tuck it away, promising yourself you’ll deal with it later. Then a few weeks pass and you realize you missed the payment deadline. Uh oh. So what actually happens if your traffic ticket payment is late?
The short answer is: it’s going to cost you. Mailing in a late ticket payment can lead to fines, fees, license suspension, insurance hikes, and even misdemeanor charges if you continue to ignore the issue. However, you still have options to respond even if your payment is overdue.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover:
- The specific fines and penalties for late traffic ticket payments
- Consequences like license suspension and arrest warrants
- Steps to take if your payment is past due
- How to request a hearing or extension from the court
- Finding a substitute ticket if you lost yours
- The importance of hiring a traffic lawyer for representation
Let’s dive in to fully understand the impacts of mailing a late ticket payment and how to minimize damages.
Steep Fines and Fees Can Accumulate for Late Ticket Payments
If you miss the deadline to pay a traffic ticket, you’ll typically owe the original fine amount plus additional late fees that rack up the longer you wait. For example:
- In New York City, parking tickets increase by $10 after 30 days late, $20 after 60 days, and $30 after 90 days for a total of $60 in penalties.
- California tacks on late fees of up to $300 if you miss the 90 day window to pay or contest the ticket.
As you can see, these late fee amounts quickly add up on top of what you already owe for the original ticket fine. And it gets worse if the ticket continues to go unpaid.
License Suspension for Unpaid Tickets
Failure to pay or respond to a traffic ticket may result in a suspended driver’s license in many states. This happens because paying the ticket is essentially your promise to settle the matter in good faith. Ignoring it altogether is seen as breaking that promise.
A suspended license prevents you from legally driving until you go through the proper channels to get it reinstated. This process often involves paying a hefty fee just to get it unsuspended.
Having a suspended license can also impede your ability to renew your vehicle registration. And don’t think you can just fly under the radar – even if the police don’t catch you driving, the suspension will still show up when your auto insurance goes to verify your status.
Insurance Rates Shoot Up When Your License is Suspended
Speaking of insurance, expect your rates to skyrocket if your license gets suspended over an unpaid ticket. Insurance providers see drivers with suspensions as high risk customers, so they inflate premiums as a result. Some insurers may even drop you completely.
A suspended license could mean paying hundreds more per year for car insurance. And given that you’re already struggling financially from the unpaid ticket, those higher insurance costs just add insult to injury.
Not Paying Tickets Can Lead to Misdemeanor Charges
If you continue to ignore traffic ticket notices, avoid court dates, and let fines go unpaid, you may face criminal misdemeanor charges for failure to pay and failure to appear. These types of charges can quickly escalate from a basic traffic violation into a serious criminal matter.
Misdemeanor convictions appear on your criminal record and can jeopardize your employment status, loan applications, housing eligibility, and other facets of your life. They also typically carry penalties like big fines, probation, and community service mandates.
For repeat offenders with a history of unpaid tickets and court avoidance, an arrest warrant becomes a real possibility as well. The police do not take kindly to those who blatantly disregard the law and court authority.
What Should You Do if Your Ticket Payment is Late?
Okay, we’ve covered all the worst case scenarios with late ticket payments. Now let’s discuss your options if you missed the deadline and want to make things right.
Request an Extension or Hearing
If your driver’s license hasn’t already been suspended, you may be able to request a hearing to contest the ticket or simply ask the judge for an extension on the payment due date. Courts can sometimes show leniency if they see you’re making an honest effort to address the matter.
Showing up to court in person (vs. mailing a request) demonstrates sincerity as well. Sending a written request should be your last resort if appearing isn’t possible.
Hire a Traffic Lawyer to Defend Your Case
Speaking of court appearances, hiring a lawyer to represent you is highly recommended if your ticket payment is already late. Skilled traffic attorneys have experience negotiating with judges and prosecutors to minimize fines and avoid license suspensions or criminal charges.
A lawyer may even be able to get the ticket dismissed altogether if they can call into question the validity of the traffic stop or other circumstances. Having expert legal representation gives you the best chance of a favorable outcome.
Pay the Late Fine and Move On
Finally, you can simply pay the overdue fine plus all the late fees that have accrued. Yes, this option hurts the wallet. But on the bright side it resolves the matter quickly and prevents further issues like suspension or misdemeanors.
If money is the only thing holding you back, see if the court offers payment plans or community service alternatives. Paying late is better than continuing to ignore the ticket.
Lost Your Traffic Ticket? Here’s How to Find It
Mailing a late payment is tough if you lost or misplaced the original ticket. How do you make payment without the ticket details? Here are some options for tracking down ticket info:
- Substitute Ticket – Some courts let you request a substitute ticket by mail or on their website. For example, NYC’s Traffic Violations Bureau offers print-at-home duplicate tickets.
- Contact the DMV – Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles may be able to look up ticket details and court jurisdiction if you recall the violation date.
- Call the Traffic Court – If you know the county or city where you got the ticket, call the local traffic court clerk to inquire about ticket status.
- Hire a Traffic Attorney – Experienced traffic lawyers have access to ticketing databases and relationships with court staff to efficiently track down ticket details and restore your driving privileges.
In Conclusion
Mailing in a late traffic ticket payment is never ideal, but also not the end of the world as long as you take prompt action to address it. Letting fines and fees snowball out of control by continuing to ignore the matter will only make the situation exponentially worse.
Work directly with the traffic court to request extensions, payment plans, or community service. Hiring a traffic lawyer instantly puts an expert in your corner to minimize impacts to your license, insurance, finances, and criminal record.
Even just paying the inflated late fine is better than digging yourself deeper. The moral of the story – don’t delay dealing with overdue tickets. Doing so leads to suspensions, warrants, insurance nightmares, and thousands owed in fines!
