Q: Got a suspended license notice for one out of state ticket I got in Nov and paid in Dec. Why is this happening?
I received a letter in the mail today that my license is being suspended next week for an “out-of-state speeding conviction” I received in November of last year. I paid the speeding ticket in the allotted time at the beginning of December. What do I do?
A: Could be an administrative error or it could be that paying off the ticket was not a smart thing to do - my money would be on the latter. You need to find out the cause of the suspension and if it was paying off the ticket, you will need to consult a local traffic attorney in the area where you got the ticket and keep your fingers crossed there is something that can be done about it. If so, expect it to cost three to five times (or more) than what it would have cost you to do what you should have done in the first place and just hired a traffic attorney to handle things for you.
A:
Really GREAT question; unfortunately, it's also a really complicated subject.
Under the Interstate Compact, North Carolina will give "full-faith-and-credit" for citations that would have revoked / suspended a license here, had the offense taken place in NC.
It's under something traffic attorneys often refer to as the INTERSTATE COMPACT.
See: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_20.pdf
Article 1A.
Reciprocity Agreements as to Registration and Licensing.
§ 20-4.1. Declaration of policy.
It is the policy of this State to promote and encourage the fullest possible use of its highway
system by authorizing the making and execution of motor vehicle reciprocal registration
agreements, arrangements and declarations with other states, provinces, territories and countries
with respect to vehicles registered in this and such other states, provinces, territories and
countries thus contributing to the economic and social development and growth of this State.
Unfortunately, people pass off tickets from other jurisdictions, not fully understanding the consequences.
§ 20-4.24. Reports of convictions; effect of reports.
(b) Effect. – A state that is a member of the Drivers License Compact shall treat a report
of a conviction received from another member state of the compact as a report of the conduct
that resulted in the conviction. For a conviction required to be reported under subsection (a), a
member state shall give the same effect to the report as if the conviction had occurred in that
state. For a conviction that is not required to be reported under subsection (a), a member state
shall give the effect to the report that is required by the laws of that state. G.S. 20-23 governs the
effect in this State of convictions that are not required to be reported under subsection (a).
Makes sense to talk to a NORTH CAROLINA attorney ASAP. There may be options available regarding driving.
Bill Powers
Charlotte Traffic Lawyer
CarolinaAttorneys.com
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