Failing to pay traffic tickets as required can have a negative impact on your ability to legally operate a motor vehicle. If you fail to pay a traffic ticket, the court can order the DMV to place a hold on your driver’s license or suspend your license outright until you pay your ticket(s). Placing a hold on your driver’s license can prevent you from being able to renew your license. Driving with a suspended license can be charged as a misdemeanor in California under Vehicle Code Section 14601, which is punishable by hefty fines and potentially time in the county jail.
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Don’t Ignore Traffic Tickets
A person may be unaware that a hold has been placed on their license until they go for renewal. If a hold has been placed on your driver’s license or your driver’s license has been suspended, and you are pulled over for another traffic violation, you could face additional fines and possible be taken to jail. If you have outstanding traffic ticket violations you need to take immediate action by calling a criminal defense attorney that can advise you of your options. Our firm can help you to remove a hold on your license, help you get your suspended driver’s license reinstated.
Clearing a Failure to Pay From a California Driver’s License
The first step in clearing a failure to pay from your California driver’s license is to identify which court reported the failure to pay violation. This information can be found on your driver’s record which you can obtain from the DMV either online, by phone, or in person. Once you have identified the jurisdiction that issued the citation, you can pay the necessary fees and fines at that jurisdiction’s court. The court will then notify the DMV which can release the holds or reinstate your driver’s license.
Failure to Pay Amnesty Program Expiring March 31, 2017
If you have lost your driver’s license due to unpaid traffic tickets, you can have your license reinstated by participating in the Traffic Tickets/Infractions Amnesty program signed into law by the Governor of California in June of 2015. The program offers one-time partial forgiveness for unpaid traffic and non-traffic infractions. The program ends March 31, 2017.
Failing to pay a traffic ticket or violation can result in a loss of your driving privileges which could negatively impact many areas of your life. Call the experienced attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm to clear up the hold or suspension of your California driver’s license and get on with your life with a clean driving record.
