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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 215.58 — Failing to respond to an appearance ticket

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 215: Other Offenses Relating to Judicial and Other Proceedings, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 215.58

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 215.58Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
215.58 Failing to respond to an appearance ticket. 1. A person is guilty of failing to respond to an appearance ticket when, having been personally served with an appearance ticket, as defined in subdivision two, based upon his alleged commission of a crime, he does not appear personally in the court in which such appearance ticket is returnable on the return date thereof or voluntarily within thirty days thereafter. 2. As used in this section, an appearance ticket means a written notice, whether referred to as a summons or by any other name, issued by a police officer, peace officer or other non-judicial public servant authorized by law to issue the same, directing a designated person to appear in a designated court at a designated future time in connection with a criminal action to be instituted in such court with respect to his alleged commission of a designated offense. 3. This section does not apply to any case in which an alternative to response to an appearance ticket is authorized by law and the actor complies with such alternative procedure. Failing to respond to an appearance ticket is a violation.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is failing to respond to an appearance ticket a crime in New York?

Failing to respond to an appearance ticket is a violation in New York, and a violation is not a crime under New York Penal Law § 10.00(6) — a conviction is a noncriminal disposition, not a criminal conviction. Failing to respond to an appearance ticket is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 215.58.

Which New York statute covers failing to respond to an appearance ticket?

Failing to respond to an appearance ticket is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 215.58 (Failing to respond to an appearance ticket).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.