What if I Fail to Appear in Court for a Speeding Ticket?
2018-07-05- Traffic
Do not miss your traffic court date.
Franklin County, Ohio, speeding ticket attorneys are not supposed to give legal advice on their websites. Consider this nothing more than a very strong suggestion. Nothing good happens when you fail to appear or pay after receiving a traffic citation.
Even in a best-case scenario, skipping the hearing you requested will result in filure to appear fees and a bench warrant being issued against you. A bench warrant is an order to appear in court under penalty of arrest. This means that if you do not voluntarily show up to speak with the judge or magistrate, you will be arrested by a police officer or state trooper.
A bench warrant is a public document, meaning it will show up on background checks even after you respond. Also, a bench warrant that turns into an arrest generates a police record.
Again, the bench warrant is the best thing that can happen if you miss your traffic court date. Other penalties can include the following:
- The judge can add an additional fine for failure to appear.
- The judge can suspend your driver’s license. That suspension will also apply to a commercial driver’s license if you hold one.
What to Do if You Know You Can’t Make It to Traffic Court
Every traffic court in Columbus and Franklin County allows defendants to request at least one continuance. That is a fancy way of saying you can reschedule your original hearing for nearly any reason. You can also hire a Columbus traffic attorney to go to court for you without you being present.
As soon you know that you have a conflict on the day the court set for your hearing, call an attorney or the clerk and request to have the hearing moved to a different spot on the schedule. Courts may also accept emergencies as excuses for failing to appear, but you must make sure to call the same day and, again, as early as possible. For instance, if another driver crashes into you as you head to the courthouse, call the clerk from the roadside — health and safety permitting.
Make sure to keep the new court date. The easiest wat to deal with a traffic ticket is to hire an attorney to represent you.
As a leading speeding ticket attorney in Franklin County, OH, Colin Maher of The Maher Law Firm handles all kinds of traffic cases. He offers free phone consultations and takes most cases for a fixed fee. Call him at (614) 205-2208 to discuss your situation or connect with Colin online to see how he can help you.
