Statute of limitations for fines owed to the DMV?

Q: Is there a statute of limitations for fines owed to the DMV?

A statute of limitations is described as a period of time where legal action can be taken for a specific case, but after that time period has expired, no more legal action or requirements can be pursued. You commonly find statutes of limitations in cases such as car accidents, civil crimes, or other types of run-ins with the legal system.

Many times, an individual will have outstanding fines to pay the DMV, including unpaid tickets, citations, or other payments involving situations concerning their driving record and history. For those who leave those citations unpaid, additional fines could be added on, and ultimately make the individual feel like they are drowning in payments that they will never be able to fulfill.

A: No, there is not a statute of limitations for fines owed to the DMV.

According to multiple lawyers who have been questioned about this issue, there is not a statute of limitations for fines owed to the DMV. Meaning, all tickets, citations, or payments should be seen as a "bill" rather than seen as something that will be dismissed over a certain period of time. Because of this, it is important for all individuals to pay any fines they receive, as to protect them from ultimately losing their driver's license. Law enforcement views a driver's license as a privilege, and that privilege can be taken away if citizens do not abide by the law, or if they are reckless or irresponsible with their driving record. 

Always speak with your lawyer about what type of option would be best for you to get your record cleared from fines owed to the DMV, as every case is different. However, options that you could pursue are paying the fines in full with a credit card or by properly saving money, or even more drastic options such as filing for bankruptcy.