California will do a lot more than deny a renewal over unpaid fines. First they'll double the fine the first day that you are late, and then they'll add more fees every day until it is paid. Eventually, I think it's after six months or a year, they'll suspend your driver's license, and after that they'll issue a bench warrant for your arrest. So it's entirely possible for your whole life to be ruined over a traffic ticket in California, culminating with you being thrown into prison.