Traffic Tickets
Were you pulled over and issued a traffic ticket? You might think a ticket now and then is no big deal. You may be tempted to pay the fine and be done with it. But you should think twice about the consequences of just paying a traffic ticket, especially if it was undeserved. This is the same as pleading guilty to a crime. You will have to deal with the automatic, maximum penalties for that offense, such as higher auto insurance premiums or suspension of your driver’s license. If you handle this case yourself, you may have to miss work and your insurance could still increase.
Luckily, you still have the right to consult a North Carolina Defense Lawyer about your options. If you allow our law office to represent you in this matter, in most cases we can:
- Resolve your cases without you ever having to appear in court;
- Avoid or limit insurance points on your drivers license; and
- Keep your criminal record clean.
Our licensed traffic lawyers at the Khan Law Firm are highly experienced and ready to help you.
COMMON NORTH CAROLINA TRAFFIC TICKETS
At the Khan Law Firm, our lawyers handle traffic tickets for all types of minor traffic violations and more serious criminal traffic offenses. If you are stopped while driving and either ticketed or arrested, you should contact our traffic ticket attorneys as soon as you can. We will explain the law surrounding the alleged violation, protect your rights, and guide you through the legal process of fighting the ticket.
Some of the most common traffic violations we handle include:
- Speeding:Under G.S. 20-141, driving faster than the posted speed limit is prohibited. Also, G.S. 20-141 makes it illegal to drive faster than what is safe, given the traffic, road conditions, weather, visibility, and other factors. Based on these laws, you can be ticketed for speeding if you were allegedly driving faster than the speed limit or the speed the conditions called for. If you are facing a speeding ticket, we highly recommend calling a traffic citation attorney to discuss the consequences of paying the ticket (high fines, driving record points, higher auto insurance premiums) and how you can fight it.
- Driving While License Revoked:If your driver’s license has been suspended, revoked, or canceled for any reason, whether it is a civil sanction or a criminal penalty, you cannot drive. Under G.S. 20-28, if you are caught driving while your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, you could be found guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor. However, if your license was suspended because of a DUI/DWI conviction, you may face a higher charge, and you will certainly face a harsher penalty. To avoid a driving under suspension conviction or to mitigate the consequences of this ticket, contact our traffic attorneys.
- Hit and Run:If you are in an accident in which it appears there was property damage, someone was hurt, or killed, then you are required to stop. You must remain at the scene to provide aid when necessary and to exchange information. If you do not stop after an accident, or you leave the scene before assisting others, providing your information or before the police arrive, then under G.S. 20-166 you can be charged with a crime. The level of the offense depends on a variety of factors, including the damage the accident caused. Property damage and/or minor injuries may result in a misdemeanor. However, if someone was seriously hurt or died, you could be charged with a felony. To defend against hit-and-run accusations, call a traffic court attorney right away.
- Reckless Driving:As a driver in North Carolina, you are required to operate your vehicle with caution. This means adhering to all traffic laws, as well as acting responsibly to avoid causing an accident. If you drive in a manner that shows a willful or wanton disregard for other people or property’s safety, then you are considered to be driving recklessly, and you can be ticketed under G.S. 20-140. Reckless driving is a class 2 misdemeanor, which can result in fines, probation, jail time, driving record points, and in some cases, a license suspension. To fight a reckless driving ticket, call a traffic violation lawyer.
OTHER COMMON NORTH CAROLINA TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
You should also call our traffic lawyers if you were pulled over and ticketed for:
- Driving Without a License/No Operator’s License
- Unlawful Racing
- Eluding or Fleeing the Police
- Failure to Stop at a Red Light
- Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
- Failure to Stop for a School Bus
- Failure to Wear a Seatbelt
- Unsafe Movement
PENALTIES FOR NORTH CAROLINA TRAFFIC OFFENSES
One of the many reasons to contact a traffic ticket lawyer is to make sure you understand the full scope of the potential consequences for your alleged infraction. If you simply pay a ticket, which is the same as pleading guilty, or you are found guilty of a traffic violation, you face:
- Fines and court fees
- Restitution
- Driving record points
- Community service
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation
- Probation
- Active Jail Time
To avoid the maximum penalty for a traffic violation or crime, you need traffic ticket help from an experienced attorney. Do not hesitate to contact Khan Law Firm to speak with a lawyer who knows what it takes.
NORTH CAROLINA DRIVING RECORD POINTS
If you are found guilty or plead guilty to certain traffic violations or crimes in North Carolina, you will have points placed on your driving record in accordance with North Carolina law. Each of these traffic violations is worth a certain number of points, typically between two and five points. The chart below outlines typical points for offenses.
| Passing a stopped school bus | 5 |
| Aggressive driving | 5 |
| Reckless driving | 4 |
| Hit and run, property damage only | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Driving on wrong side of road | 4 |
| Illegal passing | 4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian pursuant to GS 20-158(b)(2)b | 4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle motor scooter, or motorcycle | 4 |
| Running through stop sign | 3 |
| Speeding more than 55 mph | 3 |
| Speeding through a school zone | 3 |
| Failure to yield right of way | 3 |
| No driver’s license or license expired more than one year | 3 |
| Running through red light | 3 |
| Failure to stop for siren | 3 |
| Speeding through safety zone | 3 |
| Failure to report accident where such report is required | 3 |
| No liability insurance | 3 |
| All other moving violations | 2 |
| Littering involving a motor vehicle | 1 |
If you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
| Passing a stopped school bus loading or unloading children | 8 |
| Rail-highway crossing violation | 6 |
| Careless and Reckless driving in violation of G.S. 20-140(f) | 6 |
| Speeding in violation of G.S. 20-141(j3) | 6 |
| Aggressive driving | 6 |
| Reckless driving | 5 |
| Hit and run, property damage only | 5 |
| Following too closely | 5 |
| Driving on wrong side of road | 5 |
| Illegal passing | 5 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian pursuant to GS 20-158(b)(2)b | 5 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle motor scooter, or motorcycle | 5 |
| Running through stop sign | 4 |
| Speeding more than 55 mph | 4 |
| Speeding through a school zone | 4 |
| Failure to yield right of way | 4 |
| No driver’s license or license expired more than one year | 4 |
| Running through red light | 4 |
| Failure to stop for siren | 4 |
| Driving through safety zone | 4 |
| Failure to report accident where such report is required | 4 |
| Possessing alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a commercial motor vehicle | 3 |
| All other moving violations | 3 |
| Littering involving a motor vehicle | 1 |
TRAFFIC TICKET DEFENSES
You may wonder if fighting a traffic ticket is really worth it or how you would even go about fighting a ticket. The truth is that fighting a traffic violation or offense is often worth it. By hiring a ticket lawyer right away, you can avoid inconvenient and harsh consequences, like potential jail time and fines. By working with a lawyer, you increase the possibility that you will walk away without a traffic violation on your record. If avoiding a violation is not possible, you at least improve your chance of mitigating the consequences of the offense, such as reducing the fines and avoiding license suspensions.
Potential traffic violation or crime defenses that may apply to your case include:
- Another person was driving your vehicle and violated the law.
- You violated a traffic law during an emergency, like taking someone to the Emergency Room (ER).
- There was no reasonable suspicion for the traffic stop.
- Your ticket was issued based on faulty radar or other improperly maintained equipment.
- There is insufficient evidence to prove you committed the offense.
To learn more about these and other potential defenses, the Khan Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced and skilled ticket lawyer.
CALL US TO FIGHT A TRAFFIC TICKET
If you are facing a traffic ticket or a criminal traffic offense, we recommend speaking with an experienced traffic lawyer about all your options. We will carefully review the case, and if we believe it is weak, we may pursue having the charges dropped or reduced. If the prosecution moves forward with the charges, then we will determine the best next steps. Depending on the circumstances, we will appear on your behalf in traffic court and fight to secure the best possible resolution to your ticket.