Is there a limitation on a 9 1/2 yr. old ticket?

[reca013]

undefinedWhat is the name of your state? North Carolina
I went to renew my license and was told my license had been suspended because I had a Failure to yeild at a blinking light from 1996 that needed to be paid first. Can they charge me for a traffic ticket that is 9 1/2 years old?

[JETX]

Originally Posted by reca013

Can they charge me for a traffic ticket that is 9 1/2 years old?

No.... but that is not what happened... and what DID happen is legal.
You were 'charged' with the ticket when it was given to you. However, you failed to 'appear' and handle the problem (also, a warrant may have been issued against you for your 'failure to appear').
Finally, the outstanding ticket is what has finally caught up to the state records.... and resulting in the rejection of your renewal.

[reca013]

North Carolina
I've never been served with a warrant, however it's going to cost me $450 to take care of this matter. Would it be cheaper to hire an Attorney to handle this? Thank You.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by reca013

I've never been served with a warrant, however it's going to cost me $450 to take care of this matter. Would it be cheaper to hire an Attorney to handle this? Thank You.

Of course, I have no idea how much time ($$) an attorney may charge, but I doubt it would be of much value. The simple matter is that you have an outstanding traffic ticket that needs to be taken care of. The issue of challenging the ticket has long passed. I would suggest trying to negotiate the best 'deal' you can... then pay it if you want the PRIVILEDGE of driving.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by reca013

North Carolina
I've never been served with a warrant, however it's going to cost me $450 to take care of this matter. Would it be cheaper to hire an Attorney to handle this? Thank You.

Of course, I have no idea how much time ($$) an attorney may charge, but I doubt it would be of much value. The simple matter is that you have an outstanding traffic ticket that needs to be taken care of. The issue of challenging the ticket has long passed. I would suggest trying to negotiate the best 'deal' you can... then pay it if you want the PRIVILEDGE of driving.
I also find it interesting that you make NO challenge as to the validity of this ticket, so presumably, the states claim of your not taking care of it is valid.

[reca013]

North Carolina
There was no challenge on my behalf because as far as I knew there was nothing to challenge! The first time I even heard of this ticket was recently at the DMV when I was trying to renew my license. My driving record has been absolutely clean and also, IF there was an arrest warrant- where is it? Why was I not served? The fact that I was easily located when it was my time for jury duty but unable to be located for almost 10 years about an outstanding warrant is completely bizarre to me. Not to mention the location of this 'ticket' was in another county- a county that I'm not even sure how to get to. Strange.

[LSCAP]

Pay the ticket.

The points start on the day you pay the ticket.

I seriously doubt a lawyer will be cheaper. But if your license is messed up and you dont want more points, you get a lawyer.

[reca013]

Points? So......would these be points from 1996 or 2005? I spoke with a lawyer this morning who, may I mention, laughed his butt off when I told him the situation. He said there IS a such thing as a 'stolen identity'. People do this every single day. The question is- Is this the case? And I'm willing to fight this because I KNOW I've never been stopped for running a flashing light, stop light, stop sign or anything else that says STOP! Why the poor advice?

[poohmantbb]

Unless I am wrong, it will be your burden to prove you were not driving at that moment, 10 years ago. It won't be theirs to prove you were driving. The lawyer just wants your money.