If they impound the car, the guy who you sold the car to will be tremendously inconvienced. They may still boot or tow the car, and that guy is going to come after you with a nail file to gouge your eyes in the most painful way possible. If you sold it to someone in a private deal, pay the ticket, if the car gets booted the buyer will be really, really pissed at you. You should sitll pay the ticket if you sold it to a dealership, but your life is probably not in danger since it was an anonymous (the buyer doesn't know you, but the dealership knows both parties) transaction. they may still come after you though, because, at least in CA, the DMV has a record of all buy/sell transactions.