US traffic ticket?
 

I just got a speeding ticket last night on I-5, just coming back from the Outlet. I heard several different answers from friends, some told me I dont need to pay, some said I do otherwise I will be in trouble when I cross border next time? :confused:

I got 15 days to pay off, I think thats what the state patrol said

Let me know if you got the answer

Thanks

They will arrest you the next time you try to cross the border if you haven't paid.

Just pay it and save yourself the trouble

absolutely correct, they'll arrest you right at the border too.

Hmm... I thought it was that they don't get you at the border, but if you ever get stopped by the police again down there, they'll throw you in jail...

nope, it happened to a friend of a friend of mine, it popped up on the screen while they were getting screened at the booth. unless they've changed, this happened a year and a half ago.

wow getting arrested over a speeding ticket? what will they charge you with?

they'll charge you with the amount thats on the ticket then release you

They can't arrest you if the ticket's being disputed.
They can if you let it lapse and haven't paid the fine.

Are you sure man? Not saying that you're bsing but, 'friend of a friend' isn't exactly the best source for info. If I were to make an educated guess, border security has bigger things to worry about and I doubt your name would come up on their computer unless you were wanted for something big. Possibly if you have a few outstanding tickets, but I highly doubt one ticket will get you arrested at the border.

However, with that said, if you were driving and you get pulled over again, then you will go to jail.

You can roll the dice, if you don't plan on going back to that state ever again, don't bother with paying the ticket.

just pay so you can revisit the state and have a mind in peace...

umm.. how much is a speeding tix in the state? (please convert to today's CAD $)

It's better off just pay off the tix. Cause they will issue an warrant and u will get arrested if u are entering US again. Unless u are not planning to go back there for the next 10 to 15 years.

Pay off your US ticket. Someone actually got arrested at Point Roberts border last week. Cuffed and escorted into the office. LOL.

It would make sense that since you broke the law and left the country that they would consider you to be a fugitive.

Pay it or dispute it. My friend disputed a $500 ticket a few years ago. We had to drive out to farm town in between Bellingham and Seattle. Judge was super nice and dismissed the ticket but my friend had to pay some court fee which was like $25.

Just pay it online, and yes, they will put a warrant out for your arrest. They do that for unpaid parking tickets as well.

No I kid you not, a few years ago I was with my cousins, who live in the states and we got pulled over in San Diego enroute to Mexico by the highway patrol for speeding.

The driver, being one of my cousins, got arrested on scene because he had outstanding traffic tickets and there was a statewide warrant for his arrest. There was no court open 2am Saturday morning in the county he got arrested, so we had to post bail, I think it was like $500 or something so he could could go home see the judge next business day.

Needless to say we had to cancel our drive over to Tiquana (sp) that night until he cleared his fines up.

Okay guys, I am gonna pay it off tonight

Thanks for all your inputs.

not worth the hassle. I paid mine. If you do not pay for it, you will be deemed convicted and will have a "record" and are at risk to get arrested at the border.

If you don't pay the ticket, the ticket will go to collections and Washington state will revoke your driving privilages in the state.
The fine that went to collections will increase rapidly. I had a $200 dollar ticket for speeding become $400 in less than 3 months.

I have no idea how much I owe the collection company now, that is has been almost 10 years.

I still travel to the US and drive in Washington, but I make sure I drive the speed limit and try to stay in the right lane. I usually put the car in cruise control and enjoy the drive.

lol, so you didn't pay a speeding tix 10 years ago and have no hassle during these 10 years (assuming u still cross the border 10+ times a year). That's pretty good.

also, I also agree that the border officer won't arrest you if you have ONE outstanding speeding ticket. It is not really their problem, their job is not to catch ppl with outstanding speeding tickets at the border.

Knock on wood. 2008 alone, I went through the truck crossing at least 4 times, 3 times in 4 weeks when I went to autoX, and at least 4 times across across Pt. Roberts to pick up my race tires and race parts. So not quite 10 times, but definately more than once. =)

Wait a minute. Are you guys sure that you will be hauled off to jail if you don't pay your ticket? Is this a new law or procedure? A few of my friends, myself included have un-paid speeding tickets in watcom county, skagit county etc. None of us have paid and we still cross the border on a regular basis. None of us have ever been questioned about an outstanding ticket. Keep in mind we don't speed through those countys but US customs never questions us about past traffic infractions.

pay it and get rid of it off ur back.

obviously they are bs-ing, you won't go to jail just because you got a few un-paid speeding tickets. if it's like serious offense, maybe, but a few speeding tickets is nothing. I really don't get why people like to make these stuff up. are they trying to scare ppl ?

LOL, I'm not so sure about the border but the cops will arrest you up if pulled over and you have unpaid the tickets even if it's just one. You either pay or go up in front of the judge.