Missed Court in Kentucky: What Happens Next

What Kentucky 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.

Kentucky failure to appear law

In Kentucky, 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: Class D felony. Intentionally failing to appear after court-ordered release on a felony charge is bail jumping in the first degree, a Class D felony. (KRS 520.070)
    (3) Bail jumping in the first degree is a Class D felony.
  • Released on a misdemeanor charge: Class A misdemeanor. Bail jumping in the second degree, on a misdemeanor charge, is a Class A misdemeanor. (KRS 520.080)
    (3) Bail jumping in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

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

When a date is missed, the court’s order is called a warrant (KRS 431.015(4)).

Driver’s license after a missed traffic date in Kentucky

The Transportation Cabinet may deny or suspend an operator's license, subject to a hearing, when the person failed to appear on a citation or summons. (KRS 186.570(1)(i))

(i) That person has failed to appear pursuant to a citation or summons issued by a law enforcement officer of this Commonwealth or any other jurisdiction;

Bail and bonds after a missed date in Kentucky

After a willful failure to appear and a forfeiture order, the defendant and sureties have 20 days after service to show the appearance was impossible and not their fault, or the court may enter judgment for the bail amount. (KRS 431.545)

Window to ask the court to set the forfeiture aside: 20 days after service of the forfeiture order.

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

How to deal with a missed date in Kentucky

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 Kentucky?

Yes. Released on a felony charge: Class D felony under KRS 520.070; Released on a misdemeanor charge: Class A misdemeanor under KRS 520.080.

Is missing court a felony in Kentucky?

In some cases. released on a felony charge: Class D felony under KRS 520.070. Otherwise: released on a misdemeanor charge: Class A misdemeanor under KRS 520.080.

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

The Transportation Cabinet may deny or suspend an operator's license, subject to a hearing, when the person failed to appear on a citation or summons. The rule is in KRS 186.570(1)(i).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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