January 13, 2017
Missing a traffic court or other open court date can have a very serious legal consequences. The first thing you should do after missing a court date is to take action immediately and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. An experienced criminal defense attorney can review all of the facts and circumstances of your case and can provide you with the proper legal advice. He or she may also be able to minimize the legal ramifications of missing your court date.
What follows are some of the more common consequences of missing a traffic court or other court date. You should note that in traffic court cases, a summons to appear in court is a court order. Violation of that order can subject you to various penalties, including criminal contempt, as follows:
1. The judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. A bench warrant directs police to immediately take a person into custody and bring him or her to appear before the court. For example, if the defendant is pulled over for a traffic stop, and police discover an outstanding bench warrant, the individual will immediately be arrested and taken into custody.
2. The judge could also impose a jail sentence or fines if an individual is found guilty of failing to appear for court, or of contempt of court under Florida law.
3. A judge could suspend an individual’s driver’s license for failing to appear in court for a proceeding.
An Experienced St. Petersburg Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help You
If you have missed a traffic court or other court date, it is essential that you immediately seek legal representation to determine the options you have available to you. Missing court dates can subject you to excessive fines, criminal contempt, and even jail time – especially for repeat offenders. Our experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense attorneys at Khonsari Law Group can review the facts and circumstances of your individual case and can provide you with legal advice. We are ready and willing to assist you with your case. Please feel free to contact us at any time, via telephone or email, for an initial consultation.
1 www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=VI