Traffic tickets are considered an inconvenience for many people. Even if people feel they did nothing wrong, many choose to pay the fine and avoid the inconvenience of contesting the charges. But for an increasing number of people, the inclination is to ignore the ticket, possibly the worst choice they can make.
According to a WBTV report, out of 1,500 cases that may be on the docket at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse daily, hundreds of people will fail to appear. Though a variety of cases can be on the docket each day, a majority involve DWIs and other traffic citations.
In only two days in March, WBTV found 460 cases classified as "no shows." People who do not show are assessed a $200 fine, which can be reduced if they reschedule the case or pay the fine. The report notes that the county collects about $1.3 million in failure to appear fines every year.
Failure to Appear and Driver's License Revocation
According to North Carolina statutes, if a person is charged with a traffic offense and fails to appear, the court must notify the Division of Motor Vehicles which must revoke that person's license.
The statute also lists the ways a person can get their license back after it has been revoked:
- Dispose of the charges at trial; or
- Demonstrate to the court that he is not the person charged with the offense; or
- Pays the penalty, fine, or costs ordered by the court; or
- Show court that the failure to pay the penalty, fine, or costs was not willful and that you are making a good faith effort to pay.
A traffic violation will not go away on its own. If you are charged with any type of traffic offense, it is important that you do not ignore the ticket. Contact an experienced attorney to discuss your situation.
