Failure To Go To Court Or Pay
Failure to Appear or Pay Fines
NOTE: If your ticket is for an infraction violation of the Vehicle Code, go to the Self-Help Section and Traffic Section of this website. If you have committed a misdemeanor or felony offense, go to the Criminal Section
What is a Failure to Appear?
When you sign a ticket you are promising to appear (called an arraignment) on or before the date at the bottom of the ticket. If you violate your written promise to go to court by the due date, you may be guilty of a misdemeanor. Avoid additional fees and legal action, which may include a warrant for your arrest, by taking action before your due date.
Take Care of Your Ticket Before Your Due Date:
You can read information about how to take care of your infraction violation in the Infraction (Non-Traffic) Ticket section.
If you are not delinquent and need more time, you can request an extension to take care of your ticket.
NOTE: Even though your offense is not Traffic related, it is handled by the Traffic Division.
What is a Failure to Pay Fine or Comply with a Court Order?
If you are found guilty, your sentence may include a fine and or order of the court (example: perform community service). If you do not pay your fine or comply with a court order before the date the judge gave you, you may be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Avoid additional fees and legal action, which may include a warrant for your arrest, by taking action before your fine or court order is past due. You can obtain an extension to pay your fine or comply with a court order. You can also pay your fine in installments.
Call:
(877) 872-2122
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Visit:
Visit the Collections Office at one of the court locations.
Write a letter to: (NOTE: not recommended due to time delay)
Centralized Collections
P.O. Box 22032
Santa Ana, CA 92702-4045
What is Civil Assessment?
If you violate your written promise to go to court, do not pay your fine on time, or do not obey an order of the court, an extra fee may be added and your case may be referred for collection.
Avoid additional fees and legal action, which may include a warrant for your arrest, by taking care of your case on time. For tips, refer to questions 1 and 2 above.
Under certain conditions, such as hospitalization, active military service or incarceration (being in jail), you can ask the judge not to add that additional fee.
How Do I Clear a Warrant for My Arrest?
You can request a warrant be recalled by:
- Posting bail with a law enforcement agency
- Posting bail with the court and requesting a court date
- Posting bail with the court and requesting that it be "forfeited" (this means the court keeps the bail and your case may be eligible to be closed)
- Asking a judge at the court that ordered the warrant. Report to the Traffic Division no later than 8:00am Monday-Friday. The court that ordered the warrant will be listed on any of the following: ticket, courtesy Violation Information Notice, or Sheriff’s Warrant Notice
NOTE: Even though your offense is not Traffic related, it is handled by the Traffic Division.
You can check for a warrant by:
- Accessing you case online and looking at the "Case Status" field
- Accessing the Orange County Sheriff’s active warrant index
Why Was My Ticket Referred to a Collection Agency / Franchise Tax Board?
Failure to take care of your ticket on time results in serious consequences.
In addition to the above action, the court can:
- Send your case to a Collection Agency
- Garnish (seize) your personal property such as bank accounts and wages
- Place a lien on your real property (such as your home)
Collections staff are available to answer your questions during regular court hours:
Visit:
Visit the Collections Office at one of the court locations.
Write a letter to: (NOTE: not recommended due to time delay)
Centralized Collections
P.O. Box 22032
Santa Ana, Ca 92702-4045