Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

statute of limitations regarding traffic tickets

Is there a statute of limitations regarding traffic tickets? A German friend of mine once got a speeding ticket in North or South Carolina fourteen years ago and left without paying the ticket. Now he wants to return to the US for a visit. Would he have to pay the fines, including the court costs, etc. before returning here or would it have been dropped by now? Would he be arrested if he returned without paying it, i.e. would his name be on a list of people not to be allowed into the country? Thank you in advance for any replies.


Asked on 3/01/07, 4:25 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: statute of limitations regarding traffic tickets

As long as the violation was only a ticket for a speeding infraction and not a summons to appear for a more serious matter such as reckless driving, which could also involve speeding such as 80+mph, and is classified as a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor, I doubt that your German

friend has much to be concerned about--whether it involves entering the country or traveling I-95 through the Carolinas.

However, if the violation involved a more serious matter, it's possible that a warrant may have been issued when your friend failed to appear in court which is still lodged in some law enforcement database----waiting to be executed.

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Answered on 3/01/07, 10:26 pm


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