§ 1185 Defendant to appear.

If you get a notice to appear in court for this matter, you need to show up on the date it says. If you have a good reason why you can't make it, the court can give you a new date instead.

But if you just don't show up without a good reason, the court doesn't have to wait for you. It can go ahead and hear the case and make a decision even though you're not there. This means you could lose your chance to explain your side of things or respond to the accusation against you. Showing up on time matters, because skipping court can mean the case moves forward without your input.