[A/S] Canadians legally bound to pay traffic tickets

["tdickieson" <lleather@xxxxxxxx>]

While discussing US of A registration of trailers by Canadians the 
question was posed asking whether Canadians are legally bound to pay 
traffic tickets in the US.  Yes.  Even tho there is really not much 
the state can do about non payment, we are legally bound to pay.  
What the state can and does do, is release the non payment of fines 
information to the Customs and Immigration folks who patrol your 
border entrance points, and when the Canadian in question is located 
while attempting to gain entrance into the US, they are turned back, 
and a record of this is entered under theri name.  This can cause 
great difficulty in again entering the US for said Canadian.  Also, 
once the information becomes a name file, it is unsurpassing 
difficult to have this information ammended or eliminated.  It is so 
involved that many just give up and either don't go to the US any 
more, or enter illegally, which if discovered leads to a whole new 
ball game.  Advise for Canadians who receive tickets for traffic 
offences in the US...pay them.  It could take years for a traffic 
offense non payment to reach the Border Patrol, but rest assured that 
it will someday get there.  (and it is not listed as traffic - just 
non payment of fines and the resulting bench warrant for arrest, as a 
traffic ticket is in accuality a release warrant on own recognisance)

Tom