Sometimes when you get a ticket in another state, they can force you to handle it while you're there. Sometimes you won't get a ticket if the cop sees you're from out of time. But if you do get one and avoid paying it. You'll probably end up with points on your record and a warrant.

 

Summary: The legal fees you are likely to incur somewhere down the line will probably make the traffic fine look cheap...

 

I'm not certain this is correct. I know that my NC speeding ticket (70 in a 55) last september got reported to CA, even though I paid the fine, and I got insurance points (and an increase in cost!)

 

NJ pulles in record from every other state. even if you pay fine, 2 points would be accumulate to NJ drivers...

cheers,

 

Since every municipality around now seems to have computers and internet access, it's probably hard to escape the long arm of the law. Back in the old days (here I go again) in Texas, if you got a ticket in another county, all you had to do was find out if your county and the one in which the ticket was issued had what was called a reciprocal agreement.

Basically, this agreement stated that they would honor each other's tickets. If no such agreement existed, and you didn't get stopped in the issuing county again, the ticket could be ignored. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case between most states, much less neighboring counties in Texas. John law is getting harder to fool all the time.

In 1970, while traveling through Louisiana, I had a minor fender-bender. My fault; I got the ticket. The issuing officer kept my license, and said I would get it back when the $40 fine was paid, suggesting I didn't leave the state until it was. (I vividly remember his opening line, "You Texas boys don't drive too good, do ya?" I still swear I heard banjo music when he said that!) My folks wired me the money ($40 was a lot more money in 1970 than it is now), I paid the fine and was sent on my merry way.

 

Some states report to other states, some don't. It depends on the individual agreements between states but you should be able to find out if TX and CA have an agreement. 3 years ago I was stopped in GA for 89 in a 70. He wrote it up at 84 and said that in GA they didn't report back to your home state IF you were less than 15 over and IF (the BIG IF), you mailed the fine in on time. A BIG incentive to send the money so it wouldn't be on my TN record and wouldn't be reported to ins. co. Needless to say I mailed it promptly.

 

This was going to be my point... you've got to at least pay it regardless, but if two states report to each other you might need to go to greater lengths to take care of it... as in a lawyer. The general rule is you're ok as long as it's not 15 over, but I'd check.

I seem to be on a roll lately with these 80 in a 65 tickets.

 

The last two speeding tickets I got were in SC and GA in May and June of 95. They were reported as well as the NC one earlier. My rates never went up as a result. When I bought my S2K last year, the new policy cover page showed the last two tickets. Even when I failed to pay the NC one and my license was supended and insurance cancelled the rate was the same when it was re-instated.

Don

 

Let me tell you first hand what happens:

10 years ago I got a ticket in Arizona.... I renewed my license in Texas this year and guess what? There is anational computer that links all 50 states now. Its basically a collections agency. They tell the Drivers License department NOT to issue a license to you until you resolve matter XYZ, Docket #1234 with Joe Blow in the state of I'll-Never-Go-Back-There-Again. Contact this number:...

The result? You pay the state via credit card, call the 800 number for the national computer place and pay $10 bucks for a re-enstatement, and 2 days later, you can get your license from your local state.

Took 10 years to catch up w/me, but apparently all the states went on-line receintly (last few years). They don't try to extradite you, etc... just make it impossible for you to get a local license renewal until you pay the other folks.... bummer.

On the other hand, my violation was running a red light. 10yr old ticket, my cost: $100 bucks. Not bad really. I would have thought with interest, and being a fugative of law it would have been like $1000 or something.

Anyway...pay the ticket,
Aaron

 

i'd pay it...they will execute your ass in texas for stuff like this!!
j/k