Legal Definitions - FAC

FAC stands for Failure to Answer a Citation.

This legal term refers to a situation where an individual receives a formal notice of a violation, typically a traffic ticket or a similar minor infraction, and does not respond to it by the deadline specified on the citation. Responding usually means either paying the fine, contesting the charge in court, or appearing for a scheduled court date. When someone commits an FAC, it can lead to various penalties, such as increased fines, suspension of driving privileges, or other administrative actions by the relevant authorities until the original citation is addressed and any outstanding fees are paid.

• Example 1: Ignored Speeding Ticket

  Maria was issued a speeding ticket while driving through a small town. She put the ticket in her glove compartment and, due to a busy work schedule, completely forgot about the deadline to either pay the fine or request a court hearing. When the deadline passed without any action from her, the court notified the Department of Motor Vehicles.

  This illustrates FAC because Maria failed to respond to the speeding citation by the required date. As a result, she might face additional penalties, and her driver's license could be suspended until she resolves the original ticket and any accumulated fines.

• Example 2: Unpaid Parking Violation

  John parked his car in a no-parking zone and received a parking ticket. He decided to ignore it, believing that a parking ticket was a minor issue that wouldn't have significant consequences. Several weeks later, he received a notice that his vehicle registration renewal was on hold due to an outstanding citation.

  This is an example of FAC because John did not pay or contest the parking citation. His inaction led to administrative penalties, preventing him from renewing his vehicle registration until the parking ticket and any associated late fees are settled.

• Example 3: Missed Court Appearance for a Minor Infraction

  Sarah received a citation for driving with an expired vehicle inspection sticker. She intended to get her car inspected and then appear in court to show proof and potentially have the fine reduced. However, she accidentally mixed up the dates and missed her scheduled court appearance.

  This situation demonstrates FAC because Sarah failed to appear in court as required by the citation. Even though she had an intention to resolve the issue, her absence is considered a failure to answer, which could lead to a default judgment against her, additional fines, or even a suspension of her driving privileges until she addresses the missed court date and the original violation.