Q: Received collection letter for old Texas traffic ticket; didn't get court notices.
I received a letter from Linebarger Goggan and Sampson regarding a traffic ticket issued four years ago in Texas. When I initially showed up for court, I was informed that the court was relocating and I would receive a follow-up. I have not received any communication since then from the court at my current address, although it is correctly listed on my driver's license. The court claims to have sent notices to my old address, which I haven't lived at in over ten years. I recently contacted the courts and was advised to discuss this with the judge. Is contacting the court and discussing it with the judge the best action, or should I consider other steps?
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A:
It’s understandable that you’re concerned about the situation, especially given the lack of communication from the court after you were initially informed that they were relocating. Since you haven’t received any follow-up at your current address, contacting the court is a reasonable first step. You should explain that your address was updated with the DMV and that you never received the court notices sent to your old address.
While contacting the court, you can also ask for confirmation in writing about the steps you need to take to resolve the issue. Since the court advised you to speak with the judge, it’s worth requesting a hearing or a chance to discuss the matter in front of the judge, especially since you were not properly notified.
In addition to this, you may want to request documentation showing that the court sent the notices to your old address. If they did not update your address in their system, you might be able to argue that the failure to notify you of the court dates wasn’t your fault, which could lead to the ticket being dismissed or reduced. Be proactive in addressing the matter to avoid further collection issues.
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