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Failure to Appear in Court: How to Handle the Situation
If you have a Failure to Appear in court warrant issued for a traffic ticket, handling it immediately is crucial. Taking prompt action can aid in restoring your driving privileges. Our experienced attorneys can support you in resolving your ticket and securing your license without hassles.
Signing and Not Honoring Your Traffic Ticket Promise
When you signed the traffic ticket, you signed an agreement to appear in court. Failed to honor this pledge? It’s a criminal offense, and you could face a misdemeanor charge.
If you have never been to court and have not discussed your ticket with a judge, our attorneys can represent you to handle the court process. We can clear up your driver license issue, enabling you to get it back within a few days.
Understanding Failure to Appear (VC 40508(a))
A Failure to Appear is a warrant for not making the court appearance on a given date for a traffic ticket. Failure to Attend hearing for a traffic ticket means:
• Being charged with a misdemeanor
• Facing heavy fines
• Having your license suspended or held
Excusable Failure to Appear
There are a few variances on getting excused for failure to appear in court:
• Military deployment
• Being incarcerated
• Hospitalizations
However, documentation is mandatory to prove these events.
Missing Your Court Date
It is your responsibility to make sure you make it to court on the date allocated on the traffic ticket. Most courts do not send reminder notices of upcoming court appearances, and failure to appear results in the automatic suspension of a license.
Penalties for Failure to Appear
Penalties for not appearing in court to respond to a traffic ticket include:
• A bench warrant
The court issues a bench warrant only for individuals facing misdemeanor charges. Once issued, you can be arrested and placed in jail while awaiting arraignment, or you will be urged to sign another undertaking to appear in court on a later date.
$300 Civil Assessment
You can also face a civil assessment of $300, per the 1214.1 Penal Code. The court can impose an assessment on anyone who receives an official notice and fails to appear in court without good reason or has refused to pay a fine or part of a fine ordered by the court.
Department of Motor Vehicles Holds
The Department of Motor Vehicles can hold your driving privileges and registration, leading to the license suspension if you fail to appear in court.
Contact Our Attorneys for Support
If you need assistance fighting fines, reinstating your license, or clearing up Failure to Appear warrants, our well-versed attorneys can help. We strive to reduce fines and achieve the possible outcome for your case. Call us today for legal assistance.
| Bench Warrant Will Be Issued | The court issues a bench warrant only for individuals facing misdemeanor charges. Once issued, you can be arrested and placed in jail while awaiting arraignment, or you will be urged to sign another undertaking to appear in court on a later date. |
| $300 Civil Assessment | You can also face a civil assessment of $300, per the 1214.1 Penal Code. The court can impose an assessment on anyone who receives an official notice and fails to appear in court without good reason or has refused to pay a fine or part of a penalty imposed by the court. |
| Department of Motor Vehicles Holds | If you fail to appear in court, the Department of Motor Vehicles can hold your driving privileges and registration, leading to the license suspension. |
| Military Deployment | Individuals that leave their residence for active military service can cite military deployment as an excusable reason for failure to appear in court. |
| Incarceration | If you remained incarcerated on the date of the court appearance, you can consider this as a legitimate explanation for failing to appear in court. |
| Hospitalizations | Individuals admitted to the hospital on the date of the court appearance may cite hospitalization as a reason for their failure to attend. |
Very diligent, organized associates; got my case dismissed. Hard working attorneys who can put up with your anxiousness. I was accused of robbing a gemstone dealer. Definitely A law group that lays out all possible options and alternative routes. Recommended for sure.
- ROBIN, GUN CHARGES ROBIN
CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS