Traffic Warrants Consequences, Arrests and Impoundments

The first fact that should be noted about traffic warrants is that in most states there is no statute of limitations for traffic violations. This statement in essence means that a traffic violation that was committed in 1980 when a person was in college in a different state is still valid and can be acted upon if he or she is stopped in the state where the violation occurred even today more than thirty years later.

Arrests and Impoundments Due to Traffic Violations

The other important fact to remember is that a person can be arrested and jailed for traffic violations. If a person is arrested while driving, his or her car will be impounded and any unfortunate passengers in that car will be forced to find their own way home. That is not a good way to start or end the day, but that is exactly what can happen if traffic warrants are ignored.

The Simple Resolution: Paying the Fines

Arrest and imprisonment are harsh penalties to pay for something that can be easily resolved. Most jurisdictions do not want to arrest persons for traffic violations and failure to appear in court so the best course of action is to contact the court and make arrangements to pay the fines.

Impact on Employment Opportunities

Another very good reason to pay your traffic warrants is that these warrants show up as open warrants when a background search is done. If a potential employer does a background search on a person he or she wants to hire then those nasty little traffic warrants will be listed and most employers do not care why the warrants are on your record; they just do not hire persons with open warrants. A few unpaid traffic warrants could cost a person his or her dream job.

Consequences on Driver’s License

Unpaid traffic warrants can and do lead to suspension and revocation of a person’s driver’s license. If a person has unpaid traffic warrants and then has his or her license suspended or revoked the potential damage is magnified because if the police stop that person then he or she will have compound problems due to: 1. the unpaid traffic warrants and 2. the new charge for driving while his or her license is suspended or revoked. Depending on whether this type of violation has occurred before and the length of time that the traffic warrant has been unpaid and/or how long the person has been driving on a suspended license, the person may unfortunately, find out that he or she has been classified as a habitual offender. If he or she is labeled a habitual offender the court can and will often suspend a person’s license for five years or more. That is a very steep price for failing to appear in court or refusing to pay traffic warrants.

The Price of Maintaining Driving Privileges

The privilege of driving a vehicle is one that most folks do not really appreciate until it is taken away. The best way for a person to make certain that his or her driving privilege is not taken away is to appear in court when ordered to do so and to make arrangements to pay tickets and fines. I think most people will agree that it is surely better to pay the fines than to be arrested and jailed for a few unpaid traffic tickets