If you fail to pay a traffic ticket/citation or to appear in court on the hearing date (or have your attorney appear on your behalf) the court may issue a warrant for your arrest—and may add the additional charge of failure to appear, which will include additional fines and other potential consequences.
In Michigan, if you fail to pay a traffic ticket or citation, or if you do not appear in court on the scheduled hearing date, the court may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This can also lead to an additional charge of 'failure to appear,' which can result in further fines and consequences. The failure to appear charge is separate from the original traffic offense and can compound the legal issues you face. It is important to address traffic citations promptly and to communicate with the court if you are unable to attend a hearing or pay a fine. An attorney can often appear on your behalf if you are unable to attend the court date. Ignoring a traffic ticket can lead to escalated penalties, including but not limited to, increased fines, driver's license suspension, and even incarceration.