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 Rhode Island, 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 has the authority to issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This situation can also lead to an additional charge of 'failure to appear,' which can result in further fines and potential consequences such as increased insurance rates, a suspended driver's license, and even potential jail time depending on the severity of the original traffic violation and the individual's driving record. It is important to address traffic citations promptly and to either appear in court as required or have an attorney appear on your behalf to avoid these additional legal issues.