Rap mogul Suge Knight built his reputation on being a thug who happened to work in the rap industry. His label, Death Row Records, signed artists like 2Pac and Snoop Doggie Dog. So when news spread that Knight was facing possible jail time, it really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The fact that he is facing jail time for unpaid traffic tickets is.

Knight’s criminal defense attorney appeared in a Las Vegas court today to push back a traffic hearing to later this month. Knight did not appear. That apparently, was the original problem as well. Knight received a traffic ticket in 2008, failed to appear in court on that matter and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Knight was arrested in Las Vegas last month on that warrant.

As any criminal defense attorney will tell you, in addition to late penalties and fees for unpaid traffic tickets, ignoring them all together will result in a warrant for your arrest.

At that point, the costs and consequences far outweigh temporary procrastination.

In general, a traffic attorney can keep you out of jail and work out some sort of payment arrangement that will get a bench warrant recalled. But at that point, you are much further in the hole financially than you would have been if you dealt with your traffic violation to begin with.

When push comes to shove, it is somewhat humorous that a man with the reputation of Suge Knight is in court because of traffic tickets. But it’s not so funny when it’s you or a loved one.