The Legal Consequences of Ignoring a Traffic Ticket

If you receive a traffic ticket in New York City, it’s never wise to ignore it. From fines and penalties to warrants and other legal problems, there are various legal consequences you could face if you decide to ignore a traffic ticket. Here are the most common legal consequences of ignoring a traffic ticket in NYC. 

Fines and Penalties

If you ignore a traffic ticket, there’s a good chance that you’ll receive extra fines and penalties. The amount you owe can compound quickly if you continue to ignore the ticket. If you’ve received a ticket, you can pay the fine or contest it in court if you think it’s been issued unfairly. Even before the case gets to court, you could be liable to pay triple the original fine.

Warrants and Arrests

A warrant can be issued for your arrest if you fail to pay or appear in court. This can be both humiliating and highly distressing, especially if you’ve never been in legal trouble before.

Higher Insurance Rates

If you fail to respond to a ticket insurance premiums will also increase. Insurance companies tend to see people who have received traffic tickets as risky. Infractions – also known as traffic violations – can cause your auto insurance company to raise your premiums, and you could find yourself paying more than previously for several years. 

Ignoring a traffic ticket in NYC

Suspended License

A consequence of ignoring a traffic ticket can be losing your driver’s license temporarily. Failing to pay results in your license being suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles. You may be unable to get your license back until you’ve paid all the fines and fees. If you rely on your car for travel to work this can cause more problems. If you continue to drive while suspended and get caught the penalty is more severe. 

Ignoring a traffic ticket can seriously damage your quality of life as well as your bank balance. It’s best to act as quickly to resolve the situation before the situation spirals out of control.

What Can I Do if I Feel I’ve Received a Traffic Ticket Unfairly?

If you have received a traffic ticket in NYC and want to challenge it, you can get in touch with MyTicketsNYC and we would be happy to review your cases details. We have more than two decades of experience behind us and we can help keep your record clean if you have received a traffic ticket unfairly. We can represent you in court and save you a great deal of time, money, and stress.