If the police cite you for a traffic offense, such as running the red light, reckless driving or speeding, you need to pay attention to your court date – the date you need to appear in court to fight the ticket, which will be included on the ticket.
You need to appear in court on time on the stated court date. But what if you can’t?
Request to reschedule your case
If you can’t appear in court, perhaps you are busy on the set date, your case will be considered “called and failed.” In such an instance, you can request the Clerk of Cpurt’s office to reschedule your case for a new court date.
Note that you need to provide proof of your reason for missing court on the initial set date when submitting your request. That’s why it’s vital to know your court date when you receive the ticket. If you fail to appear in court because you didn’t know the date or had forgotten it, you may not lack the needed proof, further complicating your case.
If 20 days pass without you taking action after missing your initial court date, the court will issue a Failure to Appear (FTA) against you. And with it, you may incur an FTA fee if you are later found guilty of the traffic offense.
If you fail to appear in court after 20 days from the date your FTA was issued, the court will notify the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about the matter. Consequently, the DMV will suspend your driver’s license until you resolve your case. The court may issue an order for your arrest as well.
If you receive a traffic ticket, you should fight it to protect your driving record. Seek legal guidance to determine the suitable defenses for your case.