You may be contemplating whether to pay a traffic citation you received in North Carolina or not. In many cases, paying the fine is the more convenient and morally sound option, but if you have a good reason to fight the ticket and go to court, you should do so.
If you have been issued a traffic ticket, we at Garrett, Walker, Aycoth, & Olson, Attorneys at Law, recommend speaking to a lawyer who specializes in traffic law. When you settle a traffic ticket, you admit that you did in fact commit the infraction for which you were fined. If you hire a lawyer that specializes in traffic law, there’s a chance you won’t have to face the repercussions of a traffic infraction conviction, such as points on your license, fines, and even a suspension of your driving privileges.
Justifications for Challenging Your Traffic Ticket
Fighting a traffic ticket is a good idea for a lot of reasons, the most important being a desire to keep one’s driving record clean and avoid the fines and other consequences that can result from a conviction.
Your driving record will be marked down with points once you pay your traffic ticket. Your insurance premiums may go up, and you may lose your license, have to pay more money in penalties, or even go to jail if these points are added to your driving record.
It’s not uncommon for motorists to be at a loss as to what they ought to do. Seek the counsel of a qualified attorney specializing in traffic law before deciding to defend yourself. If you hire a lawyer to represent you in traffic court, you may be able to avoid license suspension and higher insurance costs.
Do You Need a North Carolina Traffic Lawyer?
Our firm assists clients in Greensboro, North Carolina with the following traffic violations:
- Transgressing the speed limit, especially in a school zone.
- Going by a halted school bus.
- Red-light tickets.
- Driving with aggression and carelessness.
- Operating a motor vehicle without proper coverage.
- Illegal inconsiderate passing and tailgating.
- Not giving way when required.
You can challenge your North Carolina traffic ticket by following the instructions on the back of your citation. To contest a traffic ticket, you must either attend court to enter a not guilty plea or get legal counsel to argue your case on your behalf.
What Occurs Following Your Hearing?
If found guilty in court, you must pay the traffic fines and fees that came with your traffic citation. Your insurance agent will certainly raise your premiums and points will be added to the driving record.
If you receive twelve points on your North Carolina driving record within three years, your license will be suspended.
If you have successfully contested your citation and been found not guilty, you will not be subject to the aforementioned consequences. If you are found not guilty, you should still check your driving record to make sure the infraction was not recorded and no points were assessed.
It’s tempting to just pay a traffic ticket, especially if it’s for a minor infraction that doesn’t warrant a court appearance if you pay the money. Because of the severe penalties and lasting effects of traffic violations in North Carolina, it is not in your best advantage to just plead guilty without first considering challenging the ticket.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Just Pay That North Carolina Traffic Ticket
In our state, receiving a traffic ticket is a serious infraction that usually necessitates a trip to court. Consider these arguments before merely paying your traffic fine.
Indictable Record That Does Not Expire
In North Carolina, a misdemeanor charge can be filed for certain traffic violations including speeding, leaving the site of an accident without providing any information, or driving recklessly. The stigma associated with a criminal record might make it difficult to get hired, rent an apartment, and more after a conviction.
Points on a Driver’s License
If found guilty of a traffic violation, points may be added to your driving record. Excessive speeding (above 55 mph) and reckless driving both result in 4 points being added to your driving record, whereas speeding under 55 mph results in 3 points. The North Carolina DMV will suspend your driving privileges for 60 days, 6 months, or 12 months depending on how many points you have accrued on your license.
Factors Considered When Awarding Insurance
When you pay your penalty in North Carolina, the Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) will add points to your insurance record as well as your driver’s license. Insurers may charge you more as a result of this. To illustrate this, consider the following:
One insurance point and a possible 30% increase in premiums for speeding 10 miles or less over the speed limit of less than 55 mph and for other moving offenses.
Two insurance points and a possible 45 percent increase in rates are assessed for going 10 miles or less over the speed limit of 55 mph or higher, or for following too closely.
Four insurance points and a possible 80 percent rise in premiums for reckless driving.
Hit and run cases involving death or injury: 12 insurance points and up to 340 percent increase in insurance costs.
We Can Be of Service
You’ve found the right place if you were issued a traffic ticket in Greensboro. Lawyers in Greensboro, North Carolina, who specialize in traffic violations, understand how important it is to get a speeding citation resolved favorably in order to avoid points on your license and an increase in your insurance premiums. In North Carolina, our traffic ticket attorneys in Greensboro literally wrote the book on the subject. Our lawyers can help you determine whether you should try to get your speeding ticket reduced due to an inappropriate equipment infraction or whether you should ask the court to postpone judgment until payment of court fees. Please visit our services page for additional information: https://www.garrettandwalker.com/