HELP PLEASE! How to go before a judge for not paying a traffic ticket for a long time?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fair & Savvy
  • Start date Start date
F

Fair & Savvy

Guest
My niece is petrified with fear, as she didn't pay a traffic ticket close to a year ago, she first didn't have enough money to pay it and she received it in another County in CA, now the ticket is over $ 500.00 and went to court 3 times, however they always told her she has to be there b4 7:30 and it got complicated, never made it early enough because it's far away, so now, she cries and is really scared to see the judge, hasn't received anything because her forwarding address expired, I don't know how to help her, she fears there may be a warrant for her arrest and if she sees the judge, what if she gets arrested right then and there? Can anyone knowledgeable shed some light PLEASE??
 
First, she will need to show up at the time requested. She will NEED to see the judge. The judge will more than likely ask her when she will be able to pay. Unless the ticket is for a jail-able offense (DUI, License revoked) she will be able to walk out.

As far as any warrants, there is a possibility there is one. She will need to ask the judge to QUASH any warrants for her. The warrants are for failure to appear. The judge may be willing to do so since she actually showed up and explained her situation.

She will then need to personally go to the County Clerk Office, with her case number (ticket number) and change her address of record with the court. That will ensure that all mail correspondence gets to her.

Best advice, go to the court, be early, be honest and work something out with the court. Most courts do offer a repayment plan over the course of a couple months. Also, recently some counties have gone to turning over unpaid fines to collection agencies. That will effect her credit score as well.
 
Back
Top