Failure to appear at court for traffic violation

[Tristam]

Reposted from GAF. FUCKING SHIT. A month ago I was involved in a minor accident and charged with a traffic violation. I was studying for an econ exam this week and the court date completely fucking slipped my mind. It was earlier today and I missed it. The court's website reads "notice will be sent to the Department of Revenue of failure to appear or pay and your driving privilege will be suspended." It's past 5 so the court is closed till Monday.

I have a few questions:

1.) Do they typically suspend your driving privilege immediately (i.e., on that day)?
2.) Is my license suspended for any specific amount of time or just until I show up on a rescheduled date and pay the associated fines?
3.) Can this affect my insurance?
4.) Typically, how big are additional costs for failure to appear?

Thanks.

[Tristam]

1). Yes, it's automated
2.) Depends, but you may be fucked
3.) No
4.) A lot

Thanks GC. I did find out the fine for the first offense of failure to appear ($75 total). Sucks, but I can deal with that. Good to know it won't affect my insurance.

So this leaves me with driving privilege suspension to worry about. At the moment I'm driving my stepdad's car (which I am insured under -- in fact, right now it's the only car I'm insured under). I was driving my own car on the day of the accident, so of course I'm not driving with the same plates as I was that day. This means I don't have to worry about the warrant for my arrest (at least for the weekend), right?

But speaking in the long-term your response to #2 makes me worry. 

[Tristam]

I know here in California it gets relaeased when you pay the fine, in other places it can be different, but I can't see them taking it away for any amount of time being that this is your first offense.  Don't consider driving though.

Judicial leniency coming from the same state with its infamous three strikes rule...my chances are good! 

Is driving that dangerous if I'm going to and from the store with a different vehicle and set of plates? The only danger I see is if I am pulled over for some other offense.

The only reason I was worried about insurance is because it's sent to the Department of Revenue, but I'll take your word for it.

EDIT: Did some searching and found out I can get it reinstated by simply sending in a paid receipt from the court indicating I have paid the traffic fine. There's also a $20 reinstatement fee. I only hope I can pay and get a receipt on Monday (before I arrive for any rescheduled court appearance) so I can get my license reinstated ASAP. It'll be on my driver record for five years though.