Attorney John S. Willardson has been handling criminal defense cases literally since the day he was sworn in. To successfully argue a speeding ticket or any criminal citation or violation it is imperative that a defendant retain good counsel from an attorney who has a long standing relationship with the local court system.
Call today (336)838-5129 for a free telephone consultation.
NC Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs
North Carolina’s Chief District Court Judges have established set fine amounts for the state’s moving violations that don’t mandate court appearances. In addition to these fines, you most cover all associated court costs if you elect to challenge your citation in court.
Fines will be listed on your traffic ticket. All questions regarding the full amount owed should be directed to the county court posted on your citation.
Court Costs
Should your case go to trial, you must pay all associated court costs and fees.
Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)
Pay the fine
Plea bargain for a reduced charge
Receive points on your driving record
Incur possible jump in auto insurance rates
Possible option to take driver improvement course to remove driving record points
Learn more about
Paying your Traffic Ticket »
Auto Insurance Rate Increase
Additional points on your driving record could prompt your auto insurance company to raise your rates. You always have the option to search for more affordable coverage by comparing car insurance rates online.
North Carolina Traffic Ticket Penalties
NC traffic violation penalties are uniform throughout the state, meaning they do not vary by county. An illegal passing ticket will cost four points on your driving record regardless if it occurs in Charlotte or Asheville. What does vary are the actual types of penalties. Depending on your offense, these may include the suspension or revocation of driving privileges, points added to your driving record, or even driving restrictions. Your license type (permit, CDL, etc.) also factors into the degree of the penalties.
Point System
Any moving offense conviction in North Carolina will result in points being added to your driving record. If you accrue seven points the state may mandate enrolling in a driver improvement clinic. If you total 12 points within a three-year period you may face suspension. Depending on whether you've been suspended for points before, the suspension could last from 60 days to 12 months. On the bright side, reinstatement from a suspension will sponge your driving record clean of points.
The completion of a state-approved driver improvement clinic will remove three-points from your driving record.
Point amounts vary among violations. For more information, visit our page on North Carolina's point system.
NC Driver's License Suspension, Revocation and Cancellation
The terms associated with loss of driving privileges come with different meanings:
Suspended License―Driving privileges are temporarily terminated for a designated period of time; reinstatement can occur at the end of this period, and/or when certain conditions (completion of a driver improvement clinic, proof of auto insurance, etc) are met
Revoked License―Driving privileges are terminated indefinitely with no guarantee of reinstatement.
Canceled License―Driving privileges are void or terminated.
There are certain first-time traffic violations that mandate the immediate loss of driving privileges, and some of these include:
Prearranged racing with another vehicle
Speeding over 75 mph
Passing a stopped school bus
Driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit, if you are driving at a speed higher than 55 mph
DUI
For a more detailed list of these violations, consult North Carolina's driver handbook.
Penalties for Drivers Younger Than 18
Driver's younger than 18 face closer scrutiny. In addition to the violations described above, you can also lose your driving privileges if:
Suspended from school for more than 10 consecutive days
You don't have either a high school diploma or a Driving Eligibility Certificate.