Q: My son was pulled over in FL & told his license was suspended. He contacted DMV because he had pd. for a ticket and take
classes. Turns out it is an NC ticket from 20 years ago. The name on the ticket is spelled wrong and he never lived at the address shown on the ticket. They want $414. He is unsure but thinks he got a ticket which was paid however we have no info from 20 years ago. Is there any way to get this fixed so he can get his FL license renewed?
A: Sure, do what he should have done 20 years ago. Hire a local traffic attorney to make sure the ticket is taken care of properly. Just 'paying it off' is almost always a giant mistake.
Bill Powers agrees with this answer
A:
GREAT QUESTION
North Carolina can be a bit of a stickler when it comes to "holds." Until cleared by NC DMV, one would assume the Interstate Compact would continue to cause problems with licensure.
Most lawyers would want to know where the ticket was issued, what county, and whether the driver was ever licensed in North Carolina.
That would help in tracking down the citation and determining the most appropriate manner in which to proceed.
I agree with my friend A.B. Houser.
Given the complexity of such matters, one should not simply "pay off" the citation without knowing the possible consequences for doing so.
It also makes sense, given the amount of time that has expired, to figure out whether the State can prove the case.
Put simply, a dismissal of charges, while never a sure thing, would be helpful.
Thereafter there may be late fees, restoration fees, etc., associated with the entry of a 120 Failure to Appear and possible suspension/revocation in North Carolina.
See: https://www.carolinaattorneys.com/license-restoration.html AND
https://www.carolinaattorneys.com/license-suspension.html
Best bet: Retain local counsel.
Bill Powers
Charlotte Traffic Ticket Lawyer / Criminal Defense
CarolinaAttorneys.com
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