Don't you merely hate it when you dash into a store for what seems like five minutes, only to later return to your machine and find a parking violation ticket neatly tucked abroad under your windscreen wiper?

The worst part is – you never see it coming. Y'all don't fifty-fifty understand why you got information technology in the first place. Until, of class, you read the reason and realize that you've parked outside the designated zone. Or possibly yous were in a hurry and didn't realize that you had parked outside the divers, delineated space.

You could get a parking ticket for any number of reasons. And let'south exist honest – every time you lot become 1, it'south for breaking a parking rule you were previously not aware of. Either way, at present you're stuck with a fine that you have to pay, which tin be a bit of an inconvenience, to say the least.

Even so, it'due south not the sort of thing yous should ignore. This article explores what happens if yous don't pay a parking ticket.

How Exercise Unpaid Parking Tickets Affect You?

If you're one of those drivers who consider parking tickets a reprimand for poor parking practices, well, it'due south a serious citation. And, ignoring it doesn't do anything to make the trouble disappear. If anything, it aggravates it.

park ticket vending machine

While the specific punishments for ignoring citations vary by city and state, the one thing you can be sure of is – yous'll end up having to bargain with a situation that's much worse than the initial modest fine yous were slapped with. Hither'due south what could happen.

You lot Attract More Penalties

Parking tickets come with deadlines attached to them. These could exist anywhere from ii weeks to a calendar month. If you miss the cut-off date, the amount yous were initially supposed to pay could get up significantly.

In California, for instance, yous may have to cough upward an extra $300 over and above the fine on the ticket.

Your Car Could Go Booted

You lot can run from the government, but you can't hide forever. Remember, law enforcement has your license plate on file. If they run it and detect that you have two or more than unpaid parking tickets, your car could get towed even if it is legally parked at the time.

The Land Could Seize Your Vehicle Entirely

If you thought getting your car booted was bad enough, you could stop upward losing your motorcar entirely as a result of outstanding parking tickets. The country could seize your machine and auction it to recover the amount you owe in fines.

You lot Might Have to Go to Court

Some cities like Memphis, TN, for instance, effect parking tickets with court dates on them. If you pay the fine within the designated fourth dimension frame, in that location'southward no need to bear witness upwardly to court. If you miss the deadline, on the other hand, you'll need to clear your schedule for your court advent.

This begs the question – Tin can you go to jail for unpaid parking tickets? Well, yous could, if you ignore the court notice. The judge could outcome a demote warrant for your abort.

cars parked at underground parking space

You Might Have to Deal With Debt Collectors

If the idea of existence inundated with endless phone calls and demand letters from debt collectors makes you cringe, listen upwardly. That's precisely what could happen if the city'due south enforcement bureau easily your example over to drove agencies. They might even prove up to where you lot live.

Information technology Could Touch Your Credit Score

If your instance is handed over to a debt collection bureau, this volition probable show upward on your credit report. And, yous know what that ways for your credit score.

You Might Not Go Your Registration Renewed

The city could become in touch with the DMV to either suspend your vehicle registration before it expires, or they may refuse to renew it entirely until you lot pay what you owe in parking ticket fines.

Can My License Be Suspended for Unpaid Parking Tickets?

This is a very real threat that many people ofttimes take for granted. You might not even exist enlightened of it until you lot're stopped by the police, who then proceed to inform you lot that you're driving with a suspended license resulting from your unpaid tickets. This is a serious violation and ane that's not easy to straighten out.

Y'all might too ask – Can I renew my license with unpaid parking tickets? The short respond is – no, you can't. You have to pay all the citations and fees required before yous're allowed to renew it.

The first step to wiping your slate clean is – know how to check for unpaid parking tickets. This unremarkably involves inbound your vehicle license plate number in an online database on your state's official website.

What Happens if Yous Lose Your License?

Losing your license is not but a major hassle, but it can likewise be a serious security hazard. And then, you need to get proactive to prevent someone else from getting their hands on it and using it for fraudulent activities.

Some states require that you first file a police report. Even if it is non a requirement in the state y'all live in, information technology's ever a adept idea to do so to protect yourself in instance someone starts using it fraudulently.

Next, visit your state'south DMV website to make up one's mind the appropriate steps y'all need to have. Submit all the paperwork required and pay the associated fee, which could range anywhere betwixt $15 and $30, depending on your state. Finally, await for your replacement license to arrive.

What Happens if You Don't Pay a Speeding Ticket?

close up of parking meter

Just as with parking tickets, failing to pay a speeding ticket could get your driver's license suspended, your auto towed, and insurance premiums increased. Yous may also not be able to renew your vehicle registration and driver's license one time they expire.

The next question yous might ask is – How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record? Although the precise time varies past state, it is commonly three years one time you've been convicted of a traffic violation or whatever other minor infraction like running a red light or getting a speeding ticket.

Pay off Parking Tickets as Soon every bit You Get Them

Now that you know what happens if you don't pay a parking ticket, the all-time thing to do would be to pay the fine as presently as you lot can. This prevents an otherwise pocket-sized violation from turning into something bigger that could lead to the break of your license, or worse, a possible jail term for ignoring a court summons.

If you wish to dispute a parking ticket you were issued, get in touch with a competent parking ticket lawyer to help yous fight the commendation you received.