Can a Passport Application Be Denied for Unpaid Traffic Tickets?

Many people are concerned that traffic tickets might cause a hiccup when applying for a passport, given the bureaucratic red tape involved. A traffic defense lawyer can provide guidance on this matter.

If you need to obtain a passport to travel outside the U.S., you may wonder what can prevent you from getting this ticket to the world of travel. Can unpaid traffic tickets hinder you from realizing your travel goals or dreams?

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Who Needs a Passport?

All citizens of the U.S. must get a passport if they wish to travel outside the country by plane. This requirement is also extended to infants. Any applicants 16 years old or under who sign up for a passport must co-sign their passport application with their parents.

Processing Times

It takes about four to six weeks to process a passport, so you should allow extra time if you plan to travel on a specific date. To receive the document sooner, you need to expedite delivery or submit an emergency application. Expediting the process can reduce the time to about two to three weeks.

The Passport Application Form

Your first step in the application process is filling out the U.S. State Department form DS-11. While you can download the form online, you still have to show up in person with the application at a passport facility or passport agency.

Supporting Documents 

Supporting documents include:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or certificate of citizenship.
• A photo government ID (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or previously used passport if you’re applying for a new one), plus a photocopy of the front and back of the ID.
• A current passport photo in the required size
• Passport fees

To obtain a passport, you must complete an official application, submit the right-sized photo, include documents proving your identity and citizenship, and pay the fees.

Passport Review

After the application is submitted, the U.S. State Department will perform a background check – checking for any alerts that may be grounds for a denial.

Traffic Tickets Won’t Keep You From Traveling Outside the Country

When it comes to traffic tickets, an outstanding ticket for a red-light infraction, texting, or speeding will not prevent you from getting a U.S. passport. However, it is best to address these matters before you leave the U.S. and go on your travel adventure.

What Might Happen When Your Return

For instance, if the state issues an arrest warrant for your unpaid tickets, you may face arrest when re-entering the U.S. Unpaid tickets can lead to a more intense inspection, even if they don’t trigger a warrant.

What Leads to Passport Denials?

So, what can prevent you from getting a passport? Applications do come with some caveats – caveats that can invalidate your application.

For instance, you can get denied if you:

• Owe child support payments
• Have a federal drug conviction
• Have an arrest warrant

Additional Charges that Can Lead to a Passport Denial

Merely having unpaid tickets typically won’t affect your passport application, though, unless you also:

• Have an outstanding federal warrant for a felony charge, including a warrant that is issued under the Federal Fugitive Felon Act (18 USC 1073)
• You are also subject to a criminal court order or a condition of your probation or parole that forbids you from leaving the U.S.

You may have outstanding traffic fines that won’t affect your passport approval. However, your passport can be denied if you have an outstanding warrant for a local, state, or federal felony offense.

Because getting a traffic ticket is not considered a felony offense, it won’t normally cause problems when getting accepted for a passport. However, other driving-related offenses, such as a DWI or driving when your license is suspended, can lead to a denial.

You need to speak to a traffic law attorney to get past these hurdles in these cases.

How to Handle Unpaid Fines for Traffic Tickets

Having unpaid traffic tickets can affect your credit score and make it difficult to get around town. After all, you won’t get very far with a suspended license. Again, the best course to take is to contact a traffic law lawyer.

Remember that as long as you pay your tickets in full and on time, you won’t experience negative consequences. If you’re having trouble paying the fines, a traffic lawyer can reduce the financial burden.

Review Your Payment Options

If you can’t pay traffic court fines or if you appear in court because you cannot pay the fines, you may receive offers to help you manage the debt. For example, the court may lower the penalty, suspend the penalty, or revise the installment plan.

So, that innocuous slip of paper, fluttering in the wind beneath your windshield, should not give you problems – as long as you don’t ignore the fine, keep your court dates, and stay out of trouble.

The federal powers only intervene when you accrue substantial debt, or worse, when an arrest warrant is issued for failing to comply with a summons.

To set the wheels of freedom rolling:

• Address your outstanding fines and proactively engage with your local jurisdiction where the tickets were issued
• Settle the debts or ask about a payment plan
• Contest the charges if you believe they were incorrectly assessed

Obtain documented proof that you paid your fines, providing evidence of a resolution of past-due payments and current fines. Be transparent when you communicate with the court.

Make sure you have a traffic defense attorney to ensure your payments are made and that you retain or regain your driving privileges.

Consult a Traffic Lawyer Today

With the slate wiped clean, you can submit a passport application without worry. If you have traffic fines that are difficult to pay, contact a New York criminal defense attorney immediately.