I recently moved to a new state, leaving Michigan behind. I have an unpaid parking ticket from Ann Arbor that the city would like me to pay, but I’m wondering… Do I have to?
Do parking tickets have any reach across city and state lines? Is the ticket tied to me in any way that can be harmful outside of Ann Arbor, MI?
I guess I’m going to pay it anyways. It’s not that much, and the meter was expired, but I’m curious how this type of infraction works within the legal system as a whole.
Depends on the particulars, but the state where the ticket was issued may be able to suspend your driving privileges. Unless you want to be surprised one day by being pulled over for a minor infraction and arrested for driving on a suspended license, you should probably pay it. Most states belong to the Drivers License Compact, an agreement between states which allows infractions in one state to affect your license in the others.
I got a ticket in new york a while ago. It was for parking to close to a school zone during school hours. It was a parking spot. I put change in the meter. I couldn’t find any signs indicating I wasn’t supposed to park there. I argued the ticket. NYC insisted it was valid. I was ordered to pay. Not being from NYC, I decided not to pay it. I got letters each getting progresively nastier demanding payment. Eventualy they moved up to suspending my license in NY state. Then I got something about them claiming any of my property, car included, should they find it in NY. I eventualy just paid the stupid ticket. I do drive through NY on occasion.
Does the “compact” allow me to vote in other states too? Never liked that concept. The short answer is, yes - unpaid violations can cause big problems in other states.