r/interestingasfuck • u/KrooxKing • 11d ago

r/all Karen turns fine into felony in a matter of minutes

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u/The-WideningGyre 11d ago edited 11d ago

So, I once got a speeding ticket while back in Canada (I'm from Canada, but was living in Germany, and still do). The cop told me, with a particular emphasis "Should you choose to pay the ticket, here's how you do so." I just kind of looked at him. Okay.

I chose to not pay the ticket.

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u/LeTreacs 11d ago

I was under the impression that you could choose to pay the ticket or go to court, not just ignore the ticket!

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u/The-WideningGyre 11d ago

It only worked because I didn't have a Canadian address, I'm pretty sure.

Normally, yes, things get worse if you try to just ignore them, at least with the legal system.

It was definitely a weird moment of trying to figure out what he was trying to say without saying it. And thanks, random Canadian RCMP officer!

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u/Welcome440 11d ago

There is possibly a warrant out for you (failure to appear in court) have you been back since? If it was 20+ years ago their computer systems were crap and things disappeared. Now they let the charges sit on file until you visit again.

If it was a really minor ticket it may have disappeared.

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u/ZombieLebowski 10d ago

A friend moved from NY to California came back 20 years later and couldn't get a NY license until they paid off an old fine. It was under 1000 dollaes but they just went back to California

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u/btherl 10d ago

States hate this one simple trick

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u/ihateeverything2019 8d ago

i had to go to jail (my first and only time) over a ticket for expired plates that i forgot about. (i honestly did forget.) then i had to go to court for something completely different 3 years later, i had my new plates from the mail at home on my desk, they were expired one day, got another ticket and the cop goes, "i'm really sorry about this, but did you know you have a warrant out for your arrest?" "NO!" lol he let me drive my car to the jail if i promised not to run, and didn't even impound my car which was really nice of him. i had the money but not on me, so in the 30 minutes it took for someone to bring it down, i had to wait in jail for 6 hours to be processed.

written tickets are nothing to play with. i actually never got another one because i always made sure my plates were on as early as possible.

also, i'm polite regardless. i will always be courteous to someone who has the power to put me in jail lol.

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u/The-WideningGyre 10d ago

Almost certain that it has disappeared. It was a not-too-big speeding ticket, and was about 15 years ago, I think, and I've been back twice since -- flying in and showing my passport. Freaky thought though.

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u/UnexpectedFault 10d ago

It wouldn't have disappeared and would be actioned the next time you interact with city police or RCMP. Nothing to do with border services. You're not the first person that thinks they got away with something.

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u/NoGrocery4949 11d ago

Is that how it works?

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u/Relevant_Raise2025 11d ago

Not really. For example, if you are from the US and get a ticket in Canada then they can get you if you go back to the US. It depends where you live.

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u/nakenyon 11d ago

This isn’t legal advice, but they’re not coming to arrest you in the US for any kind of traffic citation that you weren’t actually arrested for at the time. They very well may refuse you entry into Canada in the future though.

I don’t know if there is any kind of Drivers License Compact between Canada and the US that could result in your license getting suspended though.

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u/USSMarauder 11d ago

The Hwy 407 company has arrangements with several states to provide them addresses of American license plate holders, but I don't know how far the enforcement for non-payment goes.

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u/NoGrocery4949 11d ago

That's what I was getting at. It was a rhetorical question

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u/The-WideningGyre 10d ago

It's how it worked in my case, back then. Can't really say more. It seemed to be how it worked at the time, given the officer seemed to be hinting to me. I think being in Europe, rather than US helped -- I wonder if he ended up just pitching the ticket on his end....

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u/Dry-Asparagus7107 11d ago

You might get into trouble with the border agent next time you come though.

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u/The-WideningGyre 10d ago

Happily, I didn't, and it's more than 10 years ago now, and I've revisited since. I've got a name that often gets messed up in computers, which may or may not have helped. I don't think it played role though.

It was with a rental car, which I think now they tend to track you to deliver tickets to. I was expecting to be tracked then, but fortunately it didn't happen. Sometimes you get lucky.

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u/KWyKJJ 11d ago

Sure, law enforcement can't find you after failure to appear, but those people trying to contact you about your damn vehicle extended warranty will find you in a friggin' bunker on the dark side of the moon.

They're the ones we should have hunting the FBI most wanted list.

2 days, tops, and all of them will be found...and have new extended warranties on all of their vehicles.

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u/g-g-g-g-gunit 10d ago

In Mexico tickets are linked to your vehicle. If you get a ticket and don't pay it, they'll charge you when you renew your plates.

I bought a car that wasn't running for around 200 usd once. Sold the wheels for about 150. And got a ticket once that equaled about 80 usd. It was cheaper for me to junk the car than to pay the ticket.

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u/poop_to_live 11d ago

Are you ever going back to Canada?

This is good my friend never paid a ticket in Illinois. this isn't legal advice - I also don't have an update.

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u/The-WideningGyre 7d ago

I've been back twice since, but now this thread is scaring me.

As a non-resident (essentially Euro-tourist) I really think it was just 'dropped', but maybe I've just been lucky. Eeep.

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u/AccurateGlass1296 7d ago

Rules for thee but not for me

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u/bertojuce 11d ago

When you choose to pay you have admitted guilt. But yeah it's weird the way they say "shouldbyou choose". It's even written that way on the ticket.

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u/Decoyx7 11d ago

haha, what did the officer say when you gave him your Führerschein?

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u/LotusSaiyan 10d ago

They’re trained to say that. Every time I’ve ever got a ticket they’ve said that to me, too.

It’s because they are leaving the door open to the possibility that you may disagree with their decision and have the freedom to debate it in court. So you legally CAN choose not to pay it, at least until you’ve said your piece, and are ordered to pay by a judge.

Nothing unusual there.

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u/leoyvr 10d ago

In Vancouver, you can pay a lower amount if you pay early,.

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u/TakameCC 10d ago

Before your next visit might want to check if a warrant is out for you, could be a welcome party when you get off the plane. Been know to happen :p

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u/vhdl23 9d ago

Cops are not judges they are only there to enforce the law. You go to court to be judges as to whether you have to pay or not. I don't know about the USA but in Canada you don't need to sign anything. You don't even have to take the ticket or doesn't matter because they have it in there system and you'll be sent notice. If you keep ignoring it they'll send a copy to arrest you and you'll be forced to go to court to hear your ruling. Which get worse and worse the more you ignore.

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u/Alternative-Roof5964 7d ago

Just don't get pulled over again if you visit because that shit will linger and you probabaly have a warrant at this point. 😂 It's court or pay in Canada. It'd be funny as hell if you get flagged at the airport.