Have you received a traffic ticket for speeding, running a red light, blowing through a stop sign, passing a stopped school bus, or reckless driving? If so, you know that tickets can be expensive. Not only that, but when it comes time to renew your auto insurance, points on your driving record can cause your auto insurance premiums to shoot through the roof.
For some Texas drivers, these expenses can add up and they can have a hard time paying everything, especially when they’re on a fixed income. The problem is, when you don’t pay a traffic ticket, the issue only escalates. It snowballs until you have NO choice but to find a way to resolve it with the court. If someone fails to pay their ticket, the following can happen to them:
- The fines can be sent to collections.
- The driver’s credit is affected by the bill being sent to collections.
- The person’s driver license can be denied renewal until the fines are satisfied.
- The points from the moving violation will likely increase the driver’s auto insurance premiums.
- They commit a separate crime if they drive on a suspended or revoked license.
When You Fail to Appear in Court
Now that we’ve discussed what happens when you fail to pay a traffic ticket, let’s discuss what happens when you fail to appear in court for a traffic-related offense: If you do not show up in court when you’re supposed to and if you do not pay the fine, your driver license can be denied renewal and your status will be changed from “eligible” to “ineligible.” It won’t be legal for you to drive and if you’re caught driving without a valid license, you’ll be in a lot of trouble. You can be arrested on the spot.
“Under the Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay Program, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) may deny the renewal of a driver license if an individual has failed to appear for a citation or failed to satisfy a judgement ordering the payment of a fine,” according to DPS. In light of this information, if you have failed to pay a fine or appear in court, a Plano criminal attorney from our firm can help.
We can help you by confirming the total fines and fees you owe, by verifying if a court appearance is required of you, and by requesting a trial to contest the charges or work out a payment arrangement. To get the legal representation you need, contact us today. We gladly serve clients throughout Plano, Dallas and Fort Worth.
