This is an odd situation for me and I’m looking for additional information. A roommate of ours vacated and went to Spain. Last week an official looking document arrived. I don’t open other people’s mail, but we’ve learned it’s probably a traffic ticket. Is this something that will be dropped if there is no response? Getting in touch with this person is nearly impossible.
Has anyone just ignored a traffic ticket for a year or more?
I assume the letter is from Spain and addressed to your ex-roomie. If so, then try to forward it to him. If that's not possible, just shred it and let him deal with the consequences. Not your fight.
You could also write on it "Not at this address. Return to sender" and let the post office (and the sender) deal with it. Or if you have a forwarding address, you can write it on the envelope and the PO will forward it for free.
But I agree - not your battle. You can legally just ignore it.
The ticket is not dropped if no response. It may be, could be turned over to a collection agency. But -- again -- you have no dog in this fight. As a nice person, forward it if you can.
Last week an official looking document arrived....... but we’ve learned it’s probably a traffic ticket.
From a US jurisdiction?
Is this something that will be dropped if there is no response?
Not likely.
If/when this person returns and needs to renew her license, this could be waiting for her, with interest and penalties.
If this person is a friend, do them a favor and get this to them, so they can address it. Otherwise the 'return to sender', solution works.
I’ve been waiting and waiting for years for someone to post a Western Washington traffic ticket question! As a Western Washington traffic ticket attorney, I can give you some info:)
I am assuming this mail came from Washington. If it’s generated from Spain, my advice is irrelevant.
If it came in the mail, it’s likely a photo ticket - not issued by an officer. In Washington, if you don’t pay a photo ticket - which is tied to the registration of the car (not the driving record) - you won’t be able to renew your tabs. A photo ticket is like a parking ticket in Washington - no impact on the driving record. If you have an unpaid photo or parking ticket, the court with jurisdiction over the ticket will send Dept. of Licensing a notice of unpaid ticket. Any notices of unpaid tickets that are attached to your car registration at DOL will prevent tab renewal.
The ticket can also be sent to collections.
Sometimes an officer will issue a ticket after the fact - like at an accident where they want to investigate a bit before issuing a ticket. These come in the mail as well - but it’s pretty uncommon. Fail to pay one of these tickets and a license suspension will follow. Then, get caught driving with a suspended license and you could be arrested.
It’s a tough call about what to do with the ticket but if that person is coming back to the US, you might want to make some effort to get the ticket info to them - if it’s truly impossible, I guess there’s nothing to do - but at least you know the ramifications of the two types of possible tickets. Can you Facebook message them? WhatsApp? Direct message via Instagram? Under the assumption that they probably want to know about the ticket, you could save them TONS of money from collection agencies if you are able to get them the ticket info.
When I received my speed camera infraction it came from the municipality in Spain where the camera was located. If it came from the rental car agency simply informing your ex roommate that a ticket is forthcoming, it probably already charged his/her charge card for the administrative fee. If it did come from Spain all you could do is try and forward it, but the infraction isn’t your problem. For the ex roommate, it will probably just mean that if or when the letter is received, the fine will not be reduced if he/she decides to pay it. Where it might be an issue, if unpaid, is if he/she is stopped in Spain in the future since the unpaid ticket will show up in the national database.
I would not shred someone else’s mail. If you can’t find him, send it back.
if getting in touch with him is nearly impossible, perhaps a try or two might get him.
Clearly whoever sent it thought your address was where to find him. He'd probably want to know, if the nearly isn't actually impossible - then he can decide what to do...
More info please, Carolyn - a Spanish letter or from a local police force?
