What Happens If You Miss Court For A Traffic Ticket?

Missing a court date for a traffic ticket is not just a minor oversight—it can lead to significant legal complications. Whether you forgot the date, underestimated the seriousness of the ticket, or simply ignored it, understanding the potential consequences is crucial.

In this blog, we’ll explore what happens if you miss court for a traffic ticket and how you can manage the situation with advice from the NYC traffic violations lawyers at Feifer & Greenberg LLP.

Immediate consequences of missing your traffic ticket court date

Do you hope your ticket will get lost in the shuffle or the court or DMV will just casually forget about it? Unfortunately, that’s quite wishful thinking. When you fail to respond to the ticket or miss your court date, the court will typically issue a “failure to answer” or “failure to appear” (FTA) notice. In New York, if not corrected quickly, you can expect this to quickly turn into a full suspension of your license or privilege in NY.   Note if you are ultimately caught driving with a suspended license it can lead to arrest, criminal charges and further fines.

Failure to answer

When you receive a traffic ticket from the TVB (the agency that handles traffic violations issued in the five boroughs of NYC), you are instructed to respond by pleading guilty or not guilty within 15 days of getting the ticket.

While they don’t hold people to that as a hard deadline, the clock is ticking, and you should respond shortly after that if you have missed the 15-day limit.  Soon after, they will make it harder to enter your plea, and soon after that, your license will be suspended.  Whether online, over the phone, or by mail, you need to get that initial plea relatively quickly to avoid a suspension of your license.

If you receive a ticket outside NYC in a town or other local court, a “return date” will be written on the ticket.  The court would like your answer (your plea) before that return date.  If you miss that return date, the court will eventually contact the DMV to initiate the suspension process.

Failure to appear

Once you’ve entered your not-guilty plea and a court date has been assigned, your next “deadline” has been set.  Failure to appear on that date will eventually lead to a suspension in both the Traffic Violations Bureau and the local courts throughout the state.

At the Traffic Violations Bureau, you are given 30 days from the missed hearing date to rectify the situation. This is an absolutely hard deadline–at midnight on that 30th day, your license will be suspended if your traffic violation case still shows a missed hearing date.  If you miss a hearing date at the TVB, immediately request a new one.

You will not automatically be granted one–it depends on the age and history of the case and/or the judge’s discretion – but for better or worse, you need to address it before that deadline to avoid a suspension.

At the local courts throughout NY, each will move at their own speed following a missed court or conference date.  The procedure is much like a failure to answer, as eventually, the court will notify the DMV that you aren’t timely, and the process to suspend your license will begin.

How to respond if you’ve missed a court date

1. Act quickly

If you realize you’ve missed your court date, it’s crucial to act immediately. Contact the court to explain your absence and inquire about rescheduling your appearance. The quicker you address the oversight, the more likely you are to mitigate the consequences and get it fixed before a suspension is in place.

2. Consider legal representation

Navigating the aftermath of a missed court date can be complex. Feifer & Greenberg LLP advises seeking professional traffic ticket help to ensure your rights are protected and to minimize the potential legal repercussions.  An experienced traffic attorney can often quickly fix failure to appear issues and negotiate with the court to resolve the traffic violation without further penalties.

3. Prepare for the rescheduled date

Once a new court date is set, ensure you are fully prepared. Gather all relevant documents and evidence and if you’re working with an attorney the attorney will let you know what is needed and/or what might be helpful.  Staying organized and prepared can positively influence the outcome of your case.

Preventing future issues

• Keep track of your court dates – Always note your court dates in your calendar and set reminders. Most courts provide written notices of scheduled hearings, but it’s wise to verify the date and time as the day approaches, especially if you haven’t received a reminder.
• Understand the seriousness of traffic tickets – It’s important to treat them with the same seriousness as any other legal issue. Each ticket can carry consequences that might affect your driving privileges and driving record. Recognize that handling them responsibly is part of being a licensed driver.

Did you get a traffic ticket? Don’t wait – call us.

What happens if you miss court for a traffic ticket? The potential legal and financial consequences are significant and can impact your driving privileges and legal standing. Taking prompt action is crucial if you find yourself in this situation.

For legal assistance and representation, consider contacting Feifer & Greenberg LLP.  The firm specializes in New York traffic law and can help guide you through the process to achieve the best possible outcome.