Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in

Foreign speeding tickets

recieved 2 speeding tickets, summer 1998 in the

provence of british columbia canada on a trip to

alaska,usa. I checked with local police, legal

aid,and drivers licence bureau, the reply's were

all the same,no americans pay there fines, but

provence of b.c. may send bill to collection

agency in u.s.,so jan.1999 i recieved bill from a

collection agency in alabama......question: can

foreign gov. or provence of canada collect a debt

legaly from a person in usa? and if so can none

payment of bill to collection agency (in alabama)

be put in to credit report,hence putting black

mark on record????.........pooh!


Asked on 3/05/99, 6:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Press Chung & Press, P.C.

Re: Foreign speeding tickets

Yes, and yes. As long as the foreign government is not an "enemy," or otherwise subject to economic sanctions that would preclude access to US courts, they can take steps here to collect. I wouldn't worry about a parking ticket in Baghdad, but a Canadian ticket debt is perfectly enforceable, provided it has been reduced to judgment by your non-appearance in Canadian court and non-payment of the debt. And any debt can go on your credit report, although you are entitled to include an explanation or dispute it. Best bet: pay the ticket.

Daniel Press

Chung & Press, P.C.

6723 Whittier Ave., Suite 302


Read more
Answered on 3/08/99, 11:55 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Credit, Debt and Collections Law questions and answers in