returning to USA with an unpaid speeding ticket (Nevada)

[zed sump]

picked up a ticket courtesy of a Nevada trooper last september. has anyone had experience of returning to the USA (same state/ different state) with an unpaid ticket against their name?

[becca_viola]

Terrible idea. I wouldn't try. Maybe possible to sort it out via US consulate before you go or something?

[the winner]

yeah !! they shoot you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by the winner on Sunday 28th January 21:12

[Furyous]

the winner said:

yeah !! they shoot you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by the winner on Sunday 28th January 21:12

You had to edit that ? what for, the number of exclamation marks ?

[zed sump]

probably best to get a $ check sent for the original amount and maybe find out the hard way how much extra they want for late payment if the states talk to each other, that is! nb wasn't thinking of returning to Nevada.

[the winner]

i spelt yeah wrong !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! shoot me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve.c]

as said bite the bullet and make a few phone calls to resolve the unpaid offence,when you attempt to clear passport control at the airport the last thing you want when you are scanned etc is to be hauled off like a criminal and spend the first few or more days of your holiday sorting things out

[becca_viola]

steve.c said:

as said bite the bullet and make a few phone calls to resolve the unpaid offence,when you attempt to clear passport control at the airport the last thing you want when you are scanned etc is to be hauled off like a criminal and spend the first few or more days of your holiday sorting things out

It was passport control I was thinking of. Grim way to start a holiday really - course, you might get away with it but I personally would sort it before I went, I'm not averse to a bit of gambling but not when it could seriously muck up a holiday.

[redgriff500]

FFS If its a different state thats like a different country...

Don't worry about it.

[david968s]

Yeah, a different state, I think you will be alright. Did the trooper take your passport details? If not, then how will immigration know it was you? There must be thousands of people in the UK travelling to America with the name of Zed Sump, no?

A colleague of mine has an unpaid ticket from Nevada from years ago and has a visa to work here (in Texas), so I don't think they are that organised.

[elster]

If you get pulled again they will ask you to pay the fine if you have an outstanding, thats only in the same state.

[benyeats]

Would not worry at all. A few of the chaps at work have US traffic fines on the office wall, unpaid and so far not a hinderance.

Ben

[jimbeaux]

elster said:

If you get pulled again they will ask you to pay the fine if you have an outstanding, thats only in the same state.

Chances are they will never know; ticket tracking is LOW on their priority. If, by chance you did get asked, plead ignorance (they will believe you). All they will do is charge you a little more. Best, of course, is to try to settle first. Call the state you got it in, not a US federal site, they have no interests in such things. As was mentioned, each state operates as independents on matters of traffic citations and such.

[nickwilcock]

If you want to risk the man with the latex glove at the airport, then fine, don't make any attempt to pay......

[apguy]

Forget about the ticket.

I have so far managed to rack up 3 tickets in the good ole' US of A. 1st was for an illegal U-turn, the second was for parking against the direction of traffic (they actually enforce it in California) and the 3rd was an old fashioned speeding ticket. I have been back multiple times and never had the latex glove treatment

[t0ny99]

What they all said^! Stopped for speeding in New York, been back many times, not an issue....but then I've not been stopped in that state since...TBH, I was surprised the cop wrote it up, I rather hoped the old paper UK licence would stump him.

[clubsport]

I got one a few years ago passing through Nevada on the way to las vegas...went to vegas for a few days and on the way back stopped over at a small, proper cowboy country town to pay the fine in the morning. This was 3 days after being stopped, I had the paperwork issued to me by the trafic cop.......they had no record,,,,told me to forget it etc....
I literally insisted I pay the $80 as I didn't want it to come back to haunt me and i find myself in a room with security wearing rubber gloves at JFK airport sometime..they wouldn't have it....suggested I "have a nice day", having been back to the US several times since I have heard no more.

[g_attrill]

A couple of years ago I read about somebody who was arrested on an outstanding warrant and shackled and loaded onto a smelly bus for a very long journey, and told to find their own way back once they had appeared in court and paid their outstanding fines.

For the sake of a few hours of calls and a few hundred $ I myself wouldn't risk it.

[FourWheelDrift]

g_attrill said:

A couple of years ago I read about somebody who was arrested on an outstanding warrant and shackled and loaded onto a smelly bus for a very long journey, and told to find their own way back once they had appeared in court and paid their outstanding fines.

For the sake of a few hours of calls and a few hundred $ I myself wouldn't risk it.

I think you fell asleep watching Doc Hollywood.

I'd go along with the answer from our American cousin below who knows a thing or two about the law.

jimbeaux said:

Chances are they will never know; ticket tracking is LOW on their priority. If, by chance you did get asked, plead ignorance (they will believe you). All they will do is charge you a little more. Best, of course, is to try to settle first. Call the state you got it in, not a US federal site, they have no interests in such things. As was mentioned, each state operates as independents on matters of traffic citations and such.

[jimbeaux]

FourWheelDrift said:

g_attrill said:

A couple of years ago I read about somebody who was arrested on an outstanding warrant and shackled and loaded onto a smelly bus for a very long journey, and told to find their own way back once they had appeared in court and paid their outstanding fines.

For the sake of a few hours of calls and a few hundred $ I myself wouldn't risk it.

I think you fell asleep watching Doc Hollywood.

I'd go along with the answer from our American cousin below who knows a thing or two about the law.

jimbeaux said:

Chances are they will never know; ticket tracking is LOW on their priority. If, by chance you did get asked, plead ignorance (they will believe you). All they will do is charge you a little more. Best, of course, is to try to settle first. Call the state you got it in, not a US federal site, they have no interests in such things. As was mentioned, each state operates as independents on matters of traffic citations and such.

Thanks for the endorsement FWD! ZED, if you need some help or piece of mind on this, email me, I will help you "put it to bed"...Jim