What happens if I don't pay my tickets?

This weekend, I managed to get a couple tickets. Also, because I had a previous ticket that I forgot to pay my license is suspended. I might be able to pay these tickets in the allotted 30 days. But more than likely, I won’t. Question: what happens if I don’t? Will they just keep me from getting my license back until I pay them? Although it would be illegal, could I just keep driving as long as I don’t get caught? (I imagine I’ll only be able to do that until my vehicle registration comes around.) I live in Martin County Florida.

Thanks.

The court is who you want to address these questions to, not random strangers on a message board. If you can’t pay the full amount of the tickets, they will oftentimes be willing to work out a payment plan. And no one here is going to tell you it’s ok to drive on a suspended license.

See http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqsuspend.html

Don’t rely on not getting caught. Even if you drive super-carefully, some idiot might hit you anyway, and the truth will come out. Or — as recently happened to someone I know — you might get stopped at a random checkpoint.

Don’t do it. It’s too risky.

Duckster, thanks for the link. It pretty much answers my question. Q.E.D., I know I should contact the court. It wasn’t my intent to have anyone advise me on how to break or circumvent the law. I will, however, inquire about a possible payment plan. Thanks for the idea.

ETA: Keeve, I thought of that possibility. And with my luck, it would happen. :frowning:

My BIL once spent 14 days in jail because he did not pay a ticket and didn’t have the money to pay it and the late fees when he was caught driving.

In my experience, (Ca) the court will give you as much time as you need. If you go in before your fine is due, they should grant you an extension. When I was a teenager, I let a bunch of fix-it tickets go to warrant, and ended up scheduling payments for 30,60, and 90 days. And I even went back and asked to extend them some more. They always did. Just whatever you do, do not just let them go. The court does not like to be ignored.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes :->2007->Ch0322->Section 34 : Online Sunshine

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqsuspend.html

When I worked with the police force, it was SOP for the court to issue what they called a “bench warrant” on violators who failed to show up for court. While the cops wouldn’t actively go looking for you, there are any number of instances where your license number might be checked for wants and warrants, at which time your vehicle will be impounded and, if you are present, you arrested under the warrant. You’re much better off arranging payments with the court.

I second what Keeve said. I have a very close friend whose license was suspended but she continued to drive (don’t ask – long story). Several months later a cop pulled her over for a minor infraction. Her car was towed there and then and she was left on the side of the street with no transportation. In fact she barely missed being arrested herself. I had to take her to the courthouse so she could plead guilty in front of a judge as well as pay a fine to get her license restored and her car back – a fairly painful and expensive experience.

Ed

I am of course not telling you what to do. I can just tell you what would happen in my state. For one getting caught for driving while suspended would mean a longer suspension and possible jail time. Not showing up for court would mean the judge would issue a warrant for contempt of court. That charge would have to be answered as well as any traffic tickets that you have been avoiding. It would mean going to jail until the bail is posted and possible fines for contempt. And as for hoping to not get caught, there is a good chance you would get caught during a random plate inquiry.

That’s in my state. Maybe they give you a cookie in Florida.

That’s what they’re trying to do here. At least for poor people.

About every 6 months some officials, as well as the largest newspaper in the state, call for forgiving the fines of indigents and giving them their driving privileges back. If you’re middle class or above, pay your fines, and obey your suspensions: or else!

What happens if you have an unpaid ticket in a state that you do not reside in and live nowhere close to? I got a ticket in New York a couple years ago that I never paid because I lost the ticket and shrugged it off at the time because I live in Tennessee and don’t often find myself that far north. I’ve been pulled over a couple times since in a few other states (I have an acknowledged speeding problem) and there’s never been a word said or letter received from New York but could there be in the future?

I know if I get pulled over there, that I’m pretty much screwed but am I in any danger of my Tennessee license being suspended or possibly having a warrant served to me because of a New York infraction? Also, how would I go about paying this if I don’t even remember what municipality caught me? All I remember is that I was on I-87 somewhere in Adirondack Park and, as mentioned, I lost the ticket.

What exactly is a ‘random plate inquiry’? Is that during a traffic stop? Something you do when a vehicle pings your Spidey Senses? Or just something you do when sitting at a light?

I’ve always wondered if they’re checking me out just sitting in traffic. ('course I’m a long-hair, so I tend to get looks anyway, especially in small towns)

If and when the Real ID Act kicks in, it is quite likely the next time you get pulled over and the police run on check on you and your vehicle that New York ticket might just pop up.

See Can a cop just run your tags while being behind you?

This is possible. http://www.aamva.org/About/PressRoom/RecentMediaCoverage/Unpaid+Speeding+Ticket.htm

http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/FAQs/Traffic_Safety/Tickets/

Thanks, Gfactor. I’ll be contacting them on lunch.

Good luck.

As for a ticket you never paid in another state… check your credit report.

They probably sent you to collections. I know my state does that. They send you to collections, eventually garnish your wages or bank account, then once you’ve paid through garnishment (generally double the original fine) they adjudicate you and you’re out from under the ticket, but your credit is all dinged up.

I don’t know if New York does that, but I know WA. State and Oregon do. I’m a good girl and a good driver… my ex-husband was a bit of a habitual traffic offender.

Go to the court and arrange a payment schedule, they’ll be happy to work with you. Also, don’t drive on a suspended license, if you’re caught, some states can classify you as a habitual offender and yank your drivers license for anywhere from 5-10 years.