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North Carolina Traffic Tickets Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Traffic Tickets and Insurance Defense for North Carolina on
Q: I have been charged today (citation) for driving at 85mph on an highway with 65mph limit, lincoln county NC.

I am 26 living in NC and I don't have a single traffic ticket or violation so far and clean on my criminal records. Today I got a speeding citation(GS 20-141(J1)) on highway for driving 20mph over the limit of 65mph and was given court date. I am worried if this will impact my career since as... View More

Charlie Gray
Charlie Gray
answered on Jul 30, 2021

Most counties reduce speeding tickets to give people an incentive to go ahead and take care of them. Technically, speeding at a high enough speed is treated as a criminal charge and, if convicted, would show up on a background check. Getting it reduced would address this and is usually how traffic... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for North Carolina on
Q: I was issued a hit and run citation. I didn’t realize I hit the other vehicle in a parking lot. What should I do next?

I am prepared to repair the damage but I really had no idea it made contact. I knew I was close but didn’t tell or hear any contact. My car had a light scratch only. The other has a plastic 1/4 panel that will need to be painted and dent removed. I have no criminal or traffic infractions on my... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 29, 2021

Only a North Carolina attorney could advise here, but your question remains open for three weeks. If you haven't already done so at this point, you could reach out to local attorneys to discuss handling of the matter (while at the same time looking into arrangements to cover the property... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: When is it too late to hire a lawyer for a speeding ticket?

I received a speeding ticket going 22 miles over and I haven't been able to call a lawyer because the times I am off work, their business hours are closed. I have a little more than a month left before the court date.

I want it to not affect my insurance

Is there a certain... View More

Randy Bryan Ligh
Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on Apr 26, 2021

You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible---the more time the lawyer has to work on your matter and get it resolved the better. That said, you can hire a lawyer up to the time your matter is adjudicated, however, the closer you get to that deadline, the more difficult it might be to hire a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: When is it too late to hire a lawyer for a speeding ticket?

I received a speeding ticket in December going 22 miles over and I haven't been able to call a lawyer because the times I am off work, their business hours are closed. I have a little more than a month left before the court date in June.

I don't want it to affect my insurance... View More

Ben Corcoran
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Ben Corcoran
answered on Apr 23, 2021

One day after the court date.

In most counties, this can be reduced to a 9 over, which, if it is your first and you are the only person on your insurance, will not affect your insurance.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: I was going 56 in a 35 after missing signs that speed reduced along a major road. My ticket requires court appearance.

Should I hire a lawyer? How much will that cost? What is the chance that I can get points reduced? What is the chance that I can avoid going to court?

Ben Corcoran
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Ben Corcoran
answered on Apr 23, 2021

Most lawyers charge around $100 for traffic matters, a lawyer can likely get this reduced to a charge of improper equipment depending on your record. Should you hire a lawyer you will likely not have to go to court.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: Recently my rear driver side LED went out. However, my rear passenger side one works. Both breaks work....

^is it legal to drive till I can get it replaced?

Ben Corcoran
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Ben Corcoran
answered on Apr 7, 2021

You may get a ticket for driving the vehicle in its current condition, but if you fix it and show the court proof of the fix the ticket would be dismissed.

What is more likely to happen is that once it comes time for your annual inspection you will have to get it fixed.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: Is it legal for an officer to write the same citation for expired registration to two different people for same car

I got a citation for expired registration/tag in November 2020 and the court date is February 19,2021. My fiancé came home one evening the last week of January and said he had just gotten a citation for the same exact thing by the same officer and his court date is March 19,2021. Is it legal for... View More

Kristen Dewar
Kristen Dewar
answered on Feb 17, 2021

Yes, it's legal. A law enforcement officer can issue the driver of a car with an expired registration tag a ticket every time someone is observed operating the car on a public street or highway. It doesn't matter if the driver of the vehicle has already been issued a previous ticket for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: Is it worth it to pay a lawyer for a traffic ticket?
David Allan King
David Allan King
answered on Feb 17, 2021

It depends. Usually folks hire a lawyer if either (a) it's a major ticket like a DUI or (b) it's a minor ticket that will effect their insurance or license, because of prior strikes. If it's your first ticket, it's a minor ticket, it falls under your insurer's forgiveness... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: My tickets are 21 years old. The reinstatement fee was 30 dollars back then. Does "another amount required" applies?

Under the new statue it states unless another amount is required. What does that mean exactly?

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Jan 26, 2021

The reinstatement fee is more now and you will likely be required to pay the current reinstatement fee now what was in effect 21 years ago. However, the reinstatement fee is irrelevant until you have resolved the old tickets - as you will remain suspended until they are taken care of. Your best... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: Traffic ticket? How should we fight a ticket my daughter received?

My daughter was in her way to visit a friend in Raleigh. She wasn’t speeding and saw an officer in the side of the road turning his light off after stopping someone else. He pulled her over and am gave her a ticket stating she COULD’VE hit him if he was outside if his car. The ticket is over... View More

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Jan 23, 2021

Everyone is required to preferably move to the left if possible or at least slow down considerably when passing a stopped officer or other emergency vehicle. It is a complete shame there actually has to be a law to tell people to do that. As to the ticket, there is no fighting a ticket. From the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: Office said she could’ve hit him if he wasn’t in his car

The officer had just finished giving someone a ticket and she said she saw him turn his lights off. But didn’t move to the other lane. He pulled her over and gave her a ticket.

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Jan 23, 2021

Everyone is required to preferably move to the left if possible or at least slow down considerably when passing a stopped officer or other emergency vehicle. It is a complete shame there actually has to be a law to tell people to do that. As to the ticket, there is no fighting a ticket. From the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: I have a failure to appear form 2018. My NCDL is suspended. What can I do?
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answered on Jan 20, 2021

Depends on what you were charged with. Your best bet is to hire an affordable traffic attorney in the local area where you received the ticket.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: if I buy my friends car and keep using their plates, is that fraudulent use?

Bought are in July and have keep insurance just never registered it to myslef

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Jan 10, 2021

It may not necessarily be fraudulent use if you aren't doing it purposely or for fraudulent reasons but both failing to title and register a car within a certain time frame of the sale is illegal. I think you must properly title a car within a month or less of the sale. Not quite sure about... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: If my court date has come and gone, court was cancelled and the officer never filed the ticket...am I in legal purgatory

I received my ticket for speeding on 11/15 for 69 in a 55. Initial court date set for today, 12/18. Saw two days ago (12/16) that court was cancelled. Contacted court clerk's office via telephone (12/16) to confirm. When asked for my ticket number, they had no record of it. Officer... View More

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answered on Dec 28, 2020

You have already wasted more time and effort on this than you should have. Just hire a local traffic attorney, have this reduced to a non-moving violation that will not affect your license and insurance and be done with it. If the address on your ticket is correct, you will likely be getting a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes and Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: i got a traffic violation , I took the class driving class last year , and im also on probation . any steps to take ?

I need to know what i do next to prevent myself from going to jail and also making my insurance go up to $500 .

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Nov 28, 2020

The short answer is to hire a local traffic attorney in the area where you got the ticket. There may be something you can do yourself such as requesting a PJC or attending a Safe Driving Class for a reduction but these options can have unforeseen consequences based on your prior driving record and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: what does it mean when a lawyer says you have outstanding matters in your case
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answered on Nov 16, 2020

If it is in reference to a traffic ticket case an attorney is currently handling for you, then it likely means you have other tickets that you haven't taken care of that are still outstanding and need to be resolved. If you have an attorney currently helping you, this is really a question... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: I got a speeding ticket for going 15 over a year ago, could I take a defensive driving class now to reduce points?

And reduce the penalties to my insurance? Or is it too late?

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answered on Nov 14, 2020

Likely not - at least not yourself. What you should have done is hire the cheapest traffic attorney you could find to have handled the ticket correctly for you in the first place. Since that ship has sailed, you now likely understand why paying it off (if that is what you did) was a really bad... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: I got a ticket for dwlr but I missed my court date and couldn't find it online because they spelled my name wronng

Can I get it dismissed?

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Nov 4, 2020

If you missed your court date, it will no longer appear online on the AOC website whether your name is spelled correctly or not. Also several bad things either have or may happen: 1) you likely have an outstanding order for arrest 2) if it has been more than 20 days since you missed your court... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: So I think I just got a warning but with COVID I dont know. Are tickets by mail now or has anything changed?

I got clocked doing 65 in what I thought was a 55 but was actually a 45. After the officer ran my license he just came back, handed it to me and told me to keep the speed down. Normally I would take that as a warning and be very thankful but with COVID I worry it may be by mail or some other means.... View More

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Nov 4, 2020

Are you saying that you can not look at the ticket and tell whether it is a warning ticket or a ticket that you need to take action on? If so, I gotta say that is a bit concerning because both types of tickets are very clear as to what they are. If you'd like, you can text a copy of the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for North Carolina on
Q: I moved to NC 1 yr ago. A job I applied for will be doing a background check

I got a wet n wreckless in Ca 20 years ago. Will that show up on my back ground check?

Amanda Bowden Johnson
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answered on Oct 27, 2020

Traffic violations typically stay on your record forever. I am not sure what a 'wet n wreckless' is but if it was 20 years ago, no reasonable person would hold that against you now even if the job involves driving. Best of luck.

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