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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    2

    Default Old Reckless Driving Arrest In Connecticut - Forfeiture And Dismissal

    My question involves a reckless driving ticket from the State of: Connecticut.

    Please forgive me if this question seems a little bizarre! I was visiting the US way back in 1995 and was arrested in CT for reckless driving (98mph on I84) The officer told me that I was being arrested as the car I was driving was registered out of state and that an arrest was necessary to ensure payment of any fine.

    He also told me that I would go to court the following day and probably be bailed. He asked how much money I had on me and told me that if I did not have sufficient money to pay my bail/ fine then I would be sent to a detention centre.

    I had approx $200 on me at the time and to cut a long story short, after a few hours panicking in the cells, the officer took me to an ATM so I could get enough cash to bail myself out.

    He drove me back to my car and when I told him that I had been planning to go to the west coast before returning to my home country, he told me that if I didn't go to court then the $340 bond would simply be forfeited and the case dismissed. There would be no warrant issued and even if there was, it would just get lost.

    Needless to say (being young and stupid) I didn't go to court nor did I realise (until very recently) that Reckless Driving is actually a criminal offense rather than just a traffic matter.

    I need to return to the US later this year with work and am a little concerned that I may have a criminal record and that I will run into problems with customs and immigration.

    I would be grateful for any advice on the following:
    1. How likely is it that the matter would have been dealt with by way of forfeiture and dismissal?
    2. Will I have a criminal record as a result?
    3. What are the chances of encountering problems at the airport if it was not dealt with in that way?

    Thanks very much in advance from someone much older and wiser!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    98,846

    Default Re: Old Reckless Driving Arrest In Connecticut - Forfeiture And Dismissal

    Quote Quoting sammypip
    View Post
    1. How likely is it that the matter would have been dealt with by way of forfeiture and dismissal?
    Contact the court or hire a lawyer in Virginia to investigate the status of the charge for you.
    Quote Quoting sammypip
    2. Will I have a criminal record as a result?
    You probably have a record of the charge, and may have a record of the no-show or of a bench warrant.
    Quote Quoting sammypip
    3. What are the chances of encountering problems at the airport if it was not dealt with in that way?
    If you don't take care of the ticket in advance, you'll find that out at the port of entry.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Old Reckless Driving Arrest In Connecticut - Forfeiture And Dismissal

    Thanks very much for that. I'll write to the court as I really don't fancy the idea of getting detained at the airport in front of my work colleagues! I wasn't sure whether this was the kind of thing I could deal with from outside the country.
    Thanks again!

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