Missed Court in District of Columbia: What Happens Next

What District of Columbia law says can follow a missed court date: whether it is a separate crime, the driver’s license rule for traffic cases, what happens to bail, and the court’s own next steps. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

What kind of case was the court date for?
How was the person released before the date?

Pick the state, the kind of case and how the person was released to see what that state’s law says.

District of Columbia failure to appear law

In District of Columbia, missing a required court date after release can be charged as its own crime. The statute grades it by the kind of case:

  • Released on a felony charge: 1 to 5 years' imprisonment (plus fine). Willfully failing to appear after release on a felony charge is punished by not less than one and not more than five years in prison, plus a fine. (D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(1))
    imprisoned not less than one year and not more than five years
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: 90 to 180 days' imprisonment (plus fine). Willfully failing to appear after release on a misdemeanor charge is punished by 90 to 180 days in jail, plus a fine. (D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(2))
    imprisoned for not less than ninety days and not more than 180 days

The statute’s mental-state words are “willfully”, so the reason the date was missed can matter.

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a warrant for failure to appear (D.C. Code § 23-1329(d)).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in District of Columbia

D.C. Law 22-175 (2018) repealed the provisions that allowed license suspension for unpaid moving-violation tickets and missed hearings; the DMV says outstanding ticket debt can still block getting a license or registering a vehicle. (D.C. Law 22-175 (Traffic and Parking Ticket Penalty Amendment Act of 2018))

to repeal provisions that allow for the suspension of a person

Bail and bonds after a missed date in District of Columbia

A willful failure to appear also forfeits any security given or pledged for release. (D.C. Code § 23-1327(a))

To compare what posting bail costs in District of Columbia, see the District of Columbia bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in District of Columbia

Only the court that set the date can recall a warrant or give a new date. Contact that court’s clerk, or the lawyer or public defender on the case, who can ask the court to recall or quash the warrant.

What this page does not do

  • It does not check whether a warrant was issued in any case or whether anyone will be arrested.
  • Whether a separate failure-to-appear charge is filed is the prosecutor’s decision; what happens to bail is the court’s.
  • It collects nothing; your choices stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is failure to appear a crime in District of Columbia?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: 1 to 5 years' imprisonment (plus fine) under D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(1); Released on a misdemeanor charge: 90 to 180 days' imprisonment (plus fine) under D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(2).

Is missing court a felony in District of Columbia?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: 1 to 5 years' imprisonment (plus fine) under D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(1). Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: 90 to 180 days' imprisonment (plus fine) under D.C. Code § 23-1327(a)(2).

Will District of Columbia suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

D.C. Law 22-175 (2018) repealed the provisions that allowed license suspension for unpaid moving-violation tickets and missed hearings; the DMV says outstanding ticket debt can still block getting a license or registering a vehicle. The rule is in D.C. Law 22-175 (Traffic and Parking Ticket Penalty Amendment Act of 2018).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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