A pink citation is a New York City summons that requires the offender to appear in court for a criminal violation. It contains personal information, the charge, and court appearance details. Ignoring it can result in an arrest warrant and heavy penalties.
A pink citation is a ticket issued in the five boroughs of New York City that requires the offender to appear in court to answer for a criminal violation. The ticket, which is formally known as a New York City summons, gets its nickname from its pink color. While a pink summons appears to be very similar to most fines issued in other parts of the country, it actually carries much more weight and comes with serious consequences if ignored.
The top of a pink summons contains basic personal information, such as the offender’s first and last name, current address, and date of birth. If a driving license is available, this information is also shown in the upper section. If the pink citation is issued for an automobile accident, the officer will also indicate whether the perpetrator is the owner of the vehicle.
The middle section of a pink summons will indicate the charge against the offender. In addition to listing the specific statute violated, the officer will also write a brief description of the complaint. This section will also indicate the time, date and place of the violation.
Immediately below the description of the offense will be the time, date and place of the court appearance. It will list the exact street address of the courthouse and also indicate the specific courtroom where the offender is expected to appear. In most pink summons cases, the courtroom dealing with the complaint will be Part AR2 in the county where the offense was committed.
After issuing the summons, the officer will sign and print his name and indicate his squad number. The offender is also asked to sign the pink summons to acknowledge receipt and notice of the impending hearing. Signing the summons does not constitute acknowledgment of guilt.
Ignoring a squad summon can result in heavy penalties. If the offender does not show up for the court appointment, an arrest warrant will be issued. This means that if an offender is apprehended for any other violation in the United States, an arrest will be made and prison sentences and fines will be handed out. Residency outside of New York City is not considered sufficient reason to avoid a citation. On the back of each summons is a toll-free number that offenders can call if they have problems with the scheduled court date.
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