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QuestionInsurance Question  I am visiting California until Feb. and just received a parking ticket for $75. I am registered in Florida. Do I still have to pay this ticket even though I am not a resident of this state?

AnswerAuto Insurance Answer

Yes, even if you are not a resident of California the country, city, etc that issued you the parking ticket still expects you to pay the $75 fine associated with violating the law.

While the penalties for not paying the parking ticket may not be as severe for you since you are not a California resident it does not mean that you could not be adversely affected by ignoring the ticket and failing to pay it. City, counties, etc that issue parking tickets may take care of them in different ways but most all now turn over unpaid tickets to a collection agency that will come after you. Not only will the $75 fine likely grow much higher due to late charges and collection fees but also it could go on your credit report and adversely affect your credit rating.

The City of Pasadena, California notes that parking tickets are not criminal offenses in the State of California and you will not be arrested for an unpaid parking ticket. However, there is an additional $25 fine for tickets that are not paid on time and you may be subject to a $3 DMV fee if a hold is placed on the registration of your vehicle. If a hold is placed on the registration of your vehicle you will be unable to register your vehicle until all your outstanding parking tickets have been paid in full. In addition your delinquent unpaid parking tickets may be referred to an outside collection agency for collection proceedings against you.

Since you reside in Florida it is doubtful the hold or lien on the registration due to an unpaid parking citation would affect you there but in the future if you decide to move to California it could possibly prevent you from registering a vehicle there.

Also if you continue to collect parking tickets your vehicle could be towed. In Pasadena your vehicle may be towed if you have five (5) or more unpaid parking tickets issued to your license plate.

The City of Los Angeles DOT site also states that while you cannot be arrested for unpaid parking tickets there are substantial penalties for not paying. Late fees can more than double the original ticket amount. You will be unable to register your vehicle until the overdue tickets are paid. You also run the risk of having your vehicle booted or towed if you accumulate five or more overdue tickets. You must pay all fines and late fines, as well as a $150.00 boot fee, in order to have the boot removed. In addition, your income tax refund could be withheld to pay parking ticket fines.

To keep from your $75 parking ticket into growing into a larger fine amount and possibly affecting your credit it would be advisable to pay it before its due date.

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