What happens if I don’t show up to court for a traffic ticket?

In Michigan, if you fail to show up to court for a traffic ticket, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. A bench warrant is a legal document issued by a judge that orders local law enforcement to locate and arrest you. Once you are located, you may be taken into custody and brought before the court that issued the bench warrant. In addition, if you fail to appear in court, the judge may hold you in contempt of court. This could lead to additional fines and penalties. In some cases, the judge may allow you to pay the original fine to close out your case. However, if you ignore the court date and do not pay the fine, the judge may issue a civil judgment against you. This would mean that you may be responsible for any additional fees and costs incurred by the court or law enforcement. If you are able to get your case resolved without appearing in court, you may be able to do so by sending in a payment to the court. Additionally, you may be able to request an extension of the court date. However, it is important to remember that regardless of the outcome of your case, you still have to take responsibility for your actions. Failing to appear in court can result in serious penalties and can have lasting consequences.

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