Missed Court in Florida: What Happens Next

What Florida 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.

Florida failure to appear law

In Florida, 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: felony of the third degree. Willfully failing to appear after release on a felony charge (or while awaiting sentence or review) is a third-degree felony, and the bond security is forfeited. (Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(a))
    Whoever, having been released pursuant to chapter 903, willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required shall incur a forfeiture of any security which was given or pledged for her or his release and, in addition, shall: (a) If she or he was released in connection with a charge of felony or while awaiting sentence or pending review by certiorari after conviction of any offense, be guilty of a felony of the third degree
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor of the first degree. Willfully failing to appear after release on a misdemeanor charge is a first-degree misdemeanor. (Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(b))
    If she or he was released in connection with a charge of misdemeanor, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083

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 or capias (Fla. Stat. § 903.26(2)(c)).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in Florida

For listed traffic offenses, if the person does not comply with the court's directives in time, the clerk sends a notice, and the license is suspended unless the person complies and pays a delinquency fee within 30 days. (Fla. Stat. § 322.245(1))

fails to comply with all of the directives of the court within the time allotted by the court, the clerk of the court must provide the person, either electronically or by mail sent to the address specified on the uniform traffic citation, a notice of such failure, notifying him or her that, if he or she does not comply with the directives of the court within 30 days after the date of the notice and pay a delinquency fee of up to $25 to the clerk

Note: Amended in 2026 (ch. 2026-39, s. 38).

Bail and bonds after a missed date in Florida

The court discharges a bond forfeiture if the defendant surrenders or is arrested within 60 days after the missed appearance and a hold is placed to return the defendant. (Fla. Stat. § 903.26(5)(c))

Window to ask the court to set the forfeiture aside: 60 days after the missed appearance.

To compare what posting bail costs in Florida, see the Florida bail bond calculator.

How to deal with a missed date in Florida

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 Florida?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: felony of the third degree under Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(a); Released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor of the first degree under Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(b).

Is missing court a felony in Florida?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: felony of the third degree under Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(a). Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: misdemeanor of the first degree under Fla. Stat. § 843.15(1)(b).

Will Florida suspend my license for missing a traffic court date?

For listed traffic offenses, if the person does not comply with the court's directives in time, the clerk sends a notice, and the license is suspended unless the person complies and pays a delinquency fee within 30 days. The rule is in Fla. Stat. § 322.245(1).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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