Hand gasping a traffic ticket on the windshield of red car.

What Happens if You Ignore a Traffic Ticket in New York?

You might think traffic tickets aren’t something to worry about until later. Meanwhile, interest rates keep piling up, and you might be setting yourself up for serious legal issues. If you recently received a citation in New York, this post explains what could happen if you ignore it and how a criminal defense attorney can help you in this situation.

What Counts as “Ignoring” a Traffic Ticket?

From the law’s perspective, there are many scenarios where they can interpret your actions as “ignoring” your ticket. This is true even if you intend to pay it off eventually. A few situations where the courts might consider a ticket ignored include:

Immediate Consequences of Ignoring a Ticket

The last thing you want to do is signal to the courts that you’re ignoring your ticket. Doing this leads to serious short- and long-term consequences that cost you much more time and money. Some penalties you might expect might be:

  • Late fees and more fines
  • Case marked as “failure to answer”
  • Not being able to contest the ticket even if you weren’t at fault
  • Increased legal penalties after a specific time

In most cases, you’ll have a short period of time to respond. This usually lasts a couple of weeks, but could be longer depending on what you were cited for. Unlike other states, New York doesn’t offer an extended grace period. Not responding with payment or a “plea” leads to:

License Suspension

Courts can ignore your ticket as “failure to appear” and notify the DMV. Once they do this, your license may be suspended, and you won’t be able to legally drive until you resolve the issue. You’ll also need to pay a reimbursement fee, ranging from $50 to over $200, depending on the crime. Many drivers won’t realize this until they’re actually pulled over, which could make the situation even worse.

Points On License

Aside from legal penalties, this violation could also lead to points on your license. This often leads to higher premiums and even further license suspension if you already have previous citations. Points also stay on your record for up to 18 months, which can impact your driving history long-term.

Bench Warrants

If you didn’t show up to court, the judge could issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This means the authorities can legally detain you until you resolve this event. While not every case leads to this, ignoring the issue for too long can dramatically increase your chances if you’re not careful.

How A Traffic Lawyer Can Help

Ignoring a traffic ticket isn’t something minor once you realize how many legal issues it carries with it. Always pay or communicate with the courts as soon as possible to avoid issues down the road. If you ignored a ticket and were unsure of how to proceed, our Long Island criminal defense lawyers can review your case and help you take the next steps. Please contact us at (866) 931-4254 to schedule a free consultation today.