missed court date or failed to appear in court
Mecklenburg - Charlotte, North Carolina Missed Court Date or Failed to Appear in Court
If the ticket is an Infraction (a lower severity charge, defined more accurately by statute but too much for this post) then the ticket goes in what is called the “20 day drawer.” That means you have 20 days to get this ticket back on the calendar. If you don’t, then the clerk’s office will notify DMV of your failure to appear (FTA). Once you have that FTA, you are assessed a $200 fine, in addition to whatever cost of court/fine you’re going to have to pay when you eventually handle the ticket. Arguably worse is that DMV will revoke your license indefinitely if you don’t handle it by a date they deem as your deadline. Yep, even a seat belt ticket can get your license revoked if you don’t handle it correctly. So a ticket that might have cost you about $210 will end up costing you at least $410, and maybe more.
If the ticket is a Misdemeanor (worse than an Infraction…speeding greater than 15 mph over the limit is a Misdemeanor!) then, depending on the county, it may go in the 20 day drawer as above, or you might get the FTA placed on it immediately, AND the court might issue a warrant for your arrest. Yes, they will send law enforcement out to find you and bring you to jail for missing your court date. And yes, you then have to deal with that extra fine, too.
If you have missed your court date or have failed to appear in Court in Mecklenburg, Rowan, Gaston, or Iredell County please contact ARL-Law at (704) 222-7525.
If the ticket is a Misdemeanor (worse than an Infraction…speeding greater than 15 mph over the limit is a Misdemeanor!) then, depending on the county, it may go in the 20 day drawer as above, or you might get the FTA placed on it immediately, AND the court might issue a warrant for your arrest. Yes, they will send law enforcement out to find you and bring you to jail for missing your court date. And yes, you then have to deal with that extra fine, too.
If you have missed your court date or have failed to appear in Court in Mecklenburg, Rowan, Gaston, or Iredell County please contact ARL-Law at (704) 222-7525.
