What can happen to me if i fail to show up to court and am living out of state?

Question

i am 19 years old. i am visiting north carolina for a while but i live in another state. recently me and a friend got pulled over and the cop found an open corona on my side and wrote me a ticket for possessing a malt beverage. my court date happens after i fly out of here, so what happens if i fail to show up in court? i know i will probably have a warrant issued, but will it not affect me outside of north carolina?

Answer 1

A FTA warrant will show on a background check, as well as when you go to renew licneses, get plates, insurance.....

Call the court; let them know the situation. Odds are you can just pay a fine and avoid a big mess.

Answer 2

On a minor offense they will issue a warrant but it will be with geographical limits, and those limits will be the county you are charged in and possibly surrounding counties, it will not be served unless you return to the area.~  

Answer 3

It might affect you outside of North Carolina.  I'm not sure if there's a national warrant registry, but if there is, law enforcement officers from your home state could arrest you on that warrant and ship you back to North Carolina.  It's a possibility, though.  Best solution - get back to NC for your court date.  I will NEVER advocate missing a court date.

Answer 4

North Carolina may enter its warrants on a nationwide system.  This can cause you trouble later.  Deal with it.

Answer 5

Why don't you call the court where you are to appear and tell them you can't make your court date.  Do it with enough advanced notice, not on the day you are to show up and hopefully not a few days before, either.  The courts usually are flexible and can extend the date.  The sooner you call the better.

....instead of overthinking this, why don't you simply call the court.  As the answerer below said, usually if you don't live in the state anymore, you can simply pay fines, they will send you a bill in other words.  You can't fight the system, you're only liable to make your problem worse.  It sounds like your problem is serious with open container of alcohol.  Your problem is compounded in severity because you were underage!  The court may extend the date, often by a month, but you probably will still have to show.  

Sorry...but don't be a dumb a**...  you're only 19, don't let the legal system ruin your life.

Answer 6

Yes, it will and if you get in trouble for something else you may go to jail.  Something as simple as getting pulled over for a headlight or tail light not working, will cause them to run your ID and find out.  They will take you to jail.  Also a fine.