What happens if I never pay my traffic ticket in Louisiana?

Imagine that you’re sorting through some old bills and you find an unpaid speeding ticket.

It’s already months overdue, so you assume that there can’t be any serious consequences. Will there really be any consequences if I just let this one fall through the cracks?

Actually, yes, there could be. Letting old traffic tickets accumulate can lead to some serious legal consequences down the road. That’s why it’s better to fight your tickets in court as soon as you get them..

If you need to resolve unpaid traffic tickets to avoid hefty fines or even time in county jail, then you need a highly qualified criminal law attorney like John Radziewicz, who has helped many New Orleans families unwind their legal issues.

Unlike other states, Louisiana does not have a points system on your drivers’ license to keep track of your traffic violations. But don’t let that fool you– the state still knows about tickets and accidents from the past.

Instead, what happens is that the tickets are reported to the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, which keeps a driving record for every licensed driver in the state.

This driving record is available to credit agencies and insurance companies. As a result, having a spotty driving record can lead to higher insurance premiums or even bad credit.

But more importantly, any police officer in the state can see you have an unpaid ticket when they pull you over.

If you have an unpaid ticket on your record, a police officer will see that the next time you get pulled over. That next traffic stop could produce an enormous fine or a trip to county lockup.

The longer it goes unpaid, and the more court dates you miss, the more serious the consequences can become. For example:

• The fine for the original ticket will be increased.
• You will be charged late fees on top of your original fine.
• Your license will be suspended
• A warrant will be issued for your arrest
• You could face very high fines or possibly even jail time for contempt of court
• You could be arrested for driving under suspension/your outstanding traffic warrant when you get pulled over.

That’s why the best thing you can do is hire an experienced traffic law attorney like John Radziewicz to fight your ticket in court, so you can get it reduced or even dismissed.

As you can see, there are all kinds of unintended consequences for letting traffic tickets fall through the cracks.

Your first instinct is probably to just pay the ticket, but that is actually the worst option. Paying your ticket is the same thing as pleading guilty. This will certainly lead to higher auto insurance premiums, and it may cause you to lose your license.

We recommend getting us in your corner to help you fight every traffic ticket in court. An experienced traffic attorney might be able to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving violation or even dismissed entirely.

And no matter how old your ticket is, a traffic lawyer is your best shot at getting it removed from your driving record.

So instead of ignoring that ticket which could cost you a lot more money or your freedom, reach out to Crescent City Law in New Orleans for help. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation, and we can help you get all those old traffic tickets taken care of.