While a speeding ticket may not seem like a big deal when you’re getting pulled over, it can have consequences later on. In North Carolina, traffic violations should be taken seriously, because not only does it create a mark on your driving record, it may also lead to an increase in car insurance rates. An NC traffic ticket can become a painful burden for many years if you’re not careful.
Our traffic defense attorneys at the Coolidge Lawn firm have helped multiple people fight traffic violations in traffic court such as speeding tickets, DWLR convictions, DWIs, and more. In this blog, we’re sharing how to get a speeding ticket off your record, pay court costs, and keep your driving record clean.
What To Do if You Get a Speeding Ticket?
You’ve noticed the dreaded blue lights flash behind you and are pulled over by a police officer. While it may seem easier to just pay the $50 court costs for your speeding ticket, you may want to instead take a moment and think about all the inconveniences this traffic ticket is going to cost you and your car insurance. Below are several options you have to diminish the consequences of a speeding ticket in North Carolina that you’ll have to face in the future.
Contest The Ticket
According to North Carolina law, you have the right to contest a ticket. If you go to court and may be able to get your ticket dismissed, in this case, the ticket won’t appear on your driving record or car insurance. In the case of being issued a wake county speeding ticket, you are entitled to a hearing, a court appearance, and the opportunity to address the court.
Speeding citations need a certain degree of technical proof as to how the officer concluded you were speeding. By contesting, many people are able to get a speeding ticket off their record.
Plea Bargain For a Better Outcome
A speeding ticket is a serious moving traffic violation. While it may seem difficult every offender with moving violations has the option to get a ticket off your record by pleading guilty to a non-moving violation. A non-moving infraction may not cause you as much trouble at work, and it usually does not result in points on your license. Pleading guilty for such an infraction can really help you and help protect your driver’s license.
If you’re being charged with multiple traffic violations at once, or even a single reckless speeding ticket, it is going to be in your best interest to seek legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney to help you achieve a plea bargain for a better outcome.
Attend Traffic School
Speeding violations can be resolved by attending traffic school. In many cases, you may finish a traffic school course instead of having a speeding ticket appear on your driving record. Driving school might be included in your plea agreement or something you complete on your own to lower the number of points on your record.
In either case, a defensive driving class doesn’t take much time or money, and it can help you diminish the effects on your car insurance.
Appeal Rights
When it comes to fighting a speeding ticket, the first judge you encounter isn’t always the best option. Even with traffic offenses, if the court finds you guilty, you have the ability to appeal.
When you’re making a case to a higher court, you only have a certain amount of time to file the papers. An appeals judge may hold a different viewpoint or examine the matter more closely.
Double Check
Double-checking your driving record is a smart idea. If you managed to correct a traffic citation, make sure to check your driving record once again. Don’t believe that just because you put in the effort to get traffic tickets wiped from your record, everything will be taken care of right now.
You should double-check your record once you think the speeding ticket has been deleted from your records. You can visit your local DMV or check your record online.
How Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Driving Record?
How much harm can one speeding ticket do? You might be surprised by the answer. Although it only seems like a small penalty at the time, a North Carolina traffic citation can lead to limited driving privileges, a suspended license, higher insurance rates, and court fees. Most jurisdictions utilize a point system to keep track of how many and how serious offenses a motorist has accumulated.
Points are a tool to keep track of your driving history. Multiple points might result in the loss of your driving rights, either temporarily or permanently. In North Carolina, you receive 3 points on your driving record for driving over 55mph. If you accumulate 12 points within 36 months you also risk having your license suspended.
Does Insurance Increase After a Speeding Ticket?
If you’ve recently received a speeding ticket, you’re undoubtedly wondering if your auto insurance premiums will rise. The simple answer is yes, if you’re convicted of speeding or any criminal moving violation, you’ll almost certainly pay extra for vehicle insurance.
It’s possible that your rate will rise anywhere from 15% to 40%. Some auto insurance companies are more lenient than other insurers, and in some regions, a speeding ticket may stay on your record for longer than others. Fortunately, the impact of traffic offenses on your insurance usually fades over time. The amount you’ll pay, however, will depend on your driving history, location, and other criteria.
Now you do have the option to seek a non-guilty verdict or if you pled guilty you can ask for Driver Improvement Classes to help have your ticket removed from your DMV record which will keep your insurance company from issuing any insurance points to your plan. However, if you obtain two or more speeding fines in three years, your car insurance rates are likely to rise and you may be issued an automatic license suspension. The best thing you can do for yourself is to show up for your court date, know the traffic law related to your traffic tickets, and seek the help of a trusted law office, like Coolidge Law Firm to help prevent your auto insurance from rising.
What Does it Take to Fight a Ticket in Court?
If you choose to contest a ticket in North Carolina, you must appear in court or hire a speeding ticket lawyer to represent you, where a prosecutor must establish you were speeding. It is good to know that if the officer fails to appear for the hearing, you may be excused, but don’t count on it. So if you want a hearing and the chance to defend yourself in traffic court, be prepared to present your case and be questioned about the details of the speeding ticket cases. Below are a few tips for how to avoid having your driver’s license revoked during your court appearance.
Read the Laws
Check the ticket to see if it was issued by a state, county, or local police, and then look up traffic laws in that jurisdiction online. Look up your state’s motor vehicle code, read the speeding legislation you’re accused of violating, and be ready to defend that you didn’t.
Have Your Evidence Ready
If you have proof that you were not speeding, you will have a better chance of winning the argument. Dashcam footage or GPS data might be used as proof, as could photographic evidence that a speed limit sign was obstructed.
Know What Speed Equipment Was Used
Police officers use different instruments to measure speed. Look up the method the officer used to measure your speed, take note of its flaws, and be prepared to show them.
Bring in Witnesses
You can summon witnesses, including any passengers who were in the vehicle at the time the ticket was issued.
Hire a Traffic Lawyer
Navigating the law alone can be difficult. A traffic defense lawyer will have dealt with traffic cases similar to yours in the past. They can help you gather evidence and prepare the right information to present in court.
Want To Fight Your Speeding Ticket? Let’s Get Started.
If you are facing any sort of traffic ticket, you need to protect your driving privileges and driver’s license by promptly hiring a speeding ticket defense attorney to represent you and get a clean record. At Coolidge Law Firm, we defend the rights of our clients accused of all types of traffic-related crimes in Wake County, including in Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Rolesville.
Call us today at (919) 239-8448 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Raleigh speeding ticket lawyer.
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