I am from Ireland, I got a speeding ticket in California, USA. What consequences of not paying are there?
by 
BrianReynolds
ANSWERS: 5
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Quite possibly none. In the US many states don't bother communicating this type of things between themselves. Most often, the only time this comes up if you are renewing your registration or your license. My best advice is to pay it, but if this isn't possible, and you have returned to Ireland and don't plan on returning to the states, I wouldn't loose sleep over it.
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Collectors are worldwide. this is what happens when a traffic citation is not paid. you can think your computer for this. not paying or appearing in court, is an assumption of guilt and the citation goes into a warrant. once this happens, the legal dept. of the local police, refer your citation(warrant) to a collection agency. they will attempt to collect this debt, anyway they can, including placing a lien on your valuables. Bet you did not know this, right?
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If you are coming back to the USA, I would think twice about not paying the ticket. In California, if you signed the ticket and promised to appear in court, you have to be there or the judge will issue a bench warrant for the separate misdemeanor offense of "Failure to Appear. This warrant goes on the national crime information system (NCIC) and sometimes migrates to your computer record with the immigration authorities. If you are an Irish national, you are most likely traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. If so, should the warrant pop up when you try to enter the country, you could be detained; denied entry; or, be classified as an undesirable alien and have your Visa Waiver Program privileges revoked. Of course, you can roll the dice as others have suggested, but being able to go back and forth without a visa is a privilege you most likely don’t want to lose.
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I was once stopped on highway 76 and sited for doing 76 miles an hour in a 45 zone, when I told the officer the sign said 76 he said "Good thing I stopped you before you reached highway 198."
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There are many stories post 9/11 of people being refused entry/deported because of outstanding tickets/warrants. You did the crime, however inoccuous it might have been, so be a man and pay up!
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