If you are a tourist who never paid a jaywalking ticket in Santa Barbara California four years ago what will happen if you visit the US again?

Answer 1

NothingRelax. Interpol and the FBI -- as wellas the Santa Barbara police -- have other things to worry about. Another TakeWell, in todays world of computers, where so many things happen automatically, (especially under recent US Homeland Security measures/concerns) - if the ticket originally had your passport/visa number referenced: it is very possible you will have to address what has now likely become a bench warrent for "failure to appear or respond" to the court, before entering again.

As just ignoring tickets and legal proceedings is an option for US citizens too, the courts know how to deal with this. They maintain the original infraction while adding a new escalated offense. Failing to do what you promised the Law when getting the ticket (appear or pay, that's what you signed to, or they would have brought you in to respond right then), means you have to answer to the Court/Judge you failed to respect, if you will. They take it personally. This act of disrespect is a sign to those protecting us here (and a rightful concern) to letting someone enter again. It is a criminal act now....not obeying a court order. You broke the law, promised an officer you would do something, and then left without doing so... your are more than a jaywalker now. Your irresponsible at least, possibly a fraud artist. Should we just trust you won't break laws here again, and if so, should you be allowed to leave again? I'm concerned. I mean, look what you did to avoid paying a few dollars...not caring about it until you realized it may interfere with your future enjoyment. (To enter the country, you will need to sign that you haven't any reason to think you have broken US laws and agree to respect them...but you know you have, you would have to lie to get in...see, it just keep growing).

Please, just pay your fine and clear the issue before coming. Then, and enjoy your next visit. if not. stay home, we have enough rudelaw breakers here to deal with already. Go to someplace else; I hear Afganistan is nice...and they cetrtainly have a great tolerance for those that dn't abide by their rules. Fact is, there are laws enforced here for all, like jaywalking - well known and promoted in So Calif tourisim about jaywalking. Sorry if you didn't know. But at least they are real. I've traveled a bit too though....and in many, if not most other countries, I've paid many a "fine" as a standard traveling charge... and for laws not probably really in effect to anyone at all, certainly only tourists, and money that probably doesn't go anywhere other than the one imposing it. There was no choice given to continue and pay later on a promise, as you were given - (read the ticket and what you signed to...not that you were guilty only that you would respond or pay).

Here's my 2cents on subject. I lived there.

Santa Barbara Cops are the worst I've ever known. They are bored, 110%corrupt, not very smart really. And empathy isn't in their vocabulary. They work in a very expensive city so trust me, if they run across you out and about their quaint little city they will make your vacation short! BUT VERY MEMORABLE and costly as they have a lot of pretty things and dumb cops to pay for in Santa Barbara. My advice is to pay up. How much could it be anyway?

That really isn't true that Santa Barbara cop's will do nothing if they run into you and you didn't pay/handle your jaywalking ticket. They set up sting Lottery events and lure anyone owing any amount of money who ignored their court system to it. Your face is plastered all over the front page the following morning as you enter the winning lottery area after waiting in line an hour and a half and five cops throw you down and cuff you and escort you out the back so the other greedy jaywalkers, dead beat parents, anyone with any kind of warrant can't see what awaits them. I've been to one of these and tried to warn people about what I thought it was. And I got taken across the street to a room that described what was going on and cops telling me I was interfering with a police sting operation and had to stay there or go to jail! Greed works every time! People traveled from Las Vegas, San Francisco, Arizona back to SB at the chance of winning the lottery! It was a great day for SB cop's. If you missed out on that. Trust me you are still in their system. Just don't do anything that causes you to come in contact with police. Better yet, how much could that ticket be? You can afford to travel? You can afford to make sure you don't spend time in Santa Barbara County jail while on vacation! Pay your ticket and worry about better things.