What happens if I don’t answer a traffic ticket?

If you fail to answer a traffic ticket in California, the court will typically assume that you are admitting your guilt and will enter a conviction against you. This means that the court can impose a fine and the state can charge you with points on your license. Additionally, depending on the severity of the violation, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest and impound your vehicle. If you do not respond to a traffic ticket within the allotted time frame, the court will issue a default conviction. This means that you are effectively admitting guilt and that the conviction will remain on your record. A default conviction can come with a range of consequences, including increased insurance rates, greater fines, and even jail time. The best thing to do when you receive a traffic ticket is to go ahead and answer it. That way, you can dispute the ticket and, in the best case, get it dismissed or get the fines or penalties reduced. Generally, the period of time in which you can answer a ticket is printed on the ticket itself, but if you lose track of it, you should contact the court and make sure you answer the ticket before the date passes.

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What happens if I don’t answer a traffic ticket?

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