Cherryville Traffic Violation Lawyer

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Cherryville, NC Traffic Violation Attorney

Steering your way through the aftermath of a traffic violation can be an overwhelming experience. However, understanding exactly what the process entails and the options available to you can help ease your stress and limit the uncertainties of the situation. Before you do anything, reach out to a trusted Cherryville traffic violation lawyer to guide you through the process step by step.

Each individual offense can have differing ramifications, depending on the severity of the violation as well as the frequency of offenses. Gaining a firm grasp on your rights regarding traffic violations is always key, along with understanding exactly what options you have moving forward.

How Can I Dispute a Traffic Ticket in North Carolina?

The state of North Carolina allows you the right to contest a speeding ticket. However, it’s always important to consult with an experienced traffic violations lawyer to lay out all the necessary steps for you. Your attorney can clearly define the type of violation and the level of severity charged against you.

Depending on those factors, you may request a hearing, and your lawyer can construct a strong defense for you to get the charges dismissed. If you do not wish to appear in court to dispute the ticket, then you do have the right to waive your right to appear in court. Oftentimes, minor speeding violations are considered waivable offenses that can be handled relatively easily online. However, by choosing this option, you would be considered guilty and required to pay the original fine.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Record?

In North Carolina, many of the more minor traffic violations, like a speeding ticket, will remain on your driving record for three years. More severe traffic offenses, like DWI, can stay on your record for much longer and even result in having your license revoked. Depending on the severity and frequency of your offenses, it’s important to consult with a reputable traffic violation lawyer to guide you through the proper procedures for your individual case.

Is a Violation the Same as a Citation?

A traffic violation is defined as when a driver violates one of the established laws of the road. A citation (commonly known as a ticket) is the physical piece of paper that the driver is issued after committing a traffic violation. The citation may also include more than one violation, depending on the violations made by the driver. A traffic citation (ticket) will also have the exact amount of the fine to be paid, should you decide not to dispute it.

How Do I Remove a Traffic Violation From My Record in North Carolina?

As long as the infractions are minor and you don’t commit any additional traffic violations within the same time period, then the points will be removed from your driving record after three years.

However, if you have multiple traffic offenses within three years, then you may be eligible to complete a defensive driving course. This will allow you to reduce the number of points on your driving record and your car insurance. The driving courses are generally inexpensive compared to the cost of a traffic ticket and can be completed in one day.

Seeking legal counsel from an experienced North Carolina traffic violation lawyer can help you determine which course of action makes the most sense for your particular case.

How Are Points Against Your License Calculated?

It’s important to understand exactly how points against your license are calculated in North Carolina, as each traffic violation has its own designated point value. The more severe the offense, the higher the point value. Here’s a quick breakdown of the more common traffic violations and corresponding point totals:

• Speeding (10 mph or less over the limit): 2 points
• Speeding in a school zone: 3 points
• Speeding over 55 mph: 3 points
• At-fault accident (with damage totaling more than $1,800 but less than $3,000): 3 points
• Failing to stop for a siren: 3 points
• Failing to report an accident: 3 points
• Lack of liability car insurance: 3 points
• Running a red light or stop sign: 3 points
• Failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian: 4 points
• Hit-and-run with property damage: 4 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points
• Aggressive driving: 5 points
• Passing a stopped school bus: 5 points
• DWI: license revoked
• Highway racing: license revoked
• Speeding to elude arrest: license revoked

An individual’s driver’s license may be subject to a suspension of 60 days if they accrue 12 or more points within a three-year period. If a driver accrues eight or more points in a three-year period following a previous license suspension, then they may be subject to a suspension of up to six months. Any subsequent suspension will likely result in a one-year suspension.

It’s also worth noting that your car insurance rates will increase substantially for each point acquired against your driver’s license, which typically ends up being even more costly than the expense of the ticket itself. Depending on the number of insurance points on your record due to traffic violations, your insurance rates could increase anywhere from 30% to over 300%.

Do Warning Tickets Go On Your Record?

No, a warning ticket is just that, a warning. They are an informal type of citation that does not officially go on your driving or insurance records. Police officers will oftentimes issue informal warnings for very minor infractions, like speeding or parking violations. Warning tickets are typically characterized by the following:

• No Fine: Probably the most obvious benefit of a warning is that there is no fine attached.
• No Court Appearance: Even if you were found to be guilty in the future, the only thing that would show up on your record is that you were issued a warning.
• No Changes to Your Car Insurance or Driving Record Points: Because they do not appear on your driving record, there would be no consequential changes to your car insurance points or rates.

Some police officers may favor handing out warnings for certain minor violations rather than issuing official citations. They believe that it can be more beneficial to the driver to understand what they did wrong and how that violation can be corrected moving forward, without the negative long-term consequences of having the citation on their records.

FAQs About Cherryville, NC Traffic Violation Law

How Much Does a Traffic Ticket Lawyer Cost in North Carolina?

For more minor infractions, like a speeding ticket, the cost of a traffic ticket lawyer in North Carolina can typically cost anywhere in the $100-$300 range. Of course, that will depend on the particular attorney. This does not include court costs, which generally cost another $180-$250. It’s also important to weigh the opportunity cost of hiring an attorney to fight your traffic tickets vs. the cost of the ticket itself and the higher car insurance rates you would be subject to for the next three or more years.

What Is a Traffic Violation in North Carolina?

In Cherryville, North Carolina, a traffic violation is defined as any time a driver violates one of the established laws of the road, which can be anything from driving without valid registration or liability insurance to speeding to a hit-and-run. All violations, both minor and severe, can have long-term consequences regarding your insurance rates and ability to maintain an active driver’s license.

Can You Go 10 Miles per Hour Over the Speed Limit in North Carolina?

The short answer is no. You cannot legally drive 10 mph over the speed limit without committing a traffic violation (speeding). Exactly how fast you’re reported to have been driving over the speed limit influences how much you will have to pay for your speeding ticket. It can be helpful to check out the varying pay ranges and for driving over the speed limit in North Carolina.

What Happens If You Get a Ticket in North Carolina?

First, you will receive your traffic citation (ticket) for the corresponding violation. From there, you have two options:

1. Contact a trusted traffic violation lawyer to provide you with legal counsel and contest the ticket in court.
2. Simply pay the ticket fine without disputing it in court.

If you decide not to have the ticket contested in court, you would be admitting guilt for committing the traffic violation. You will, therefore, receive points added to your driving record and insurance policy, which will raise your rates substantially.

Cherryville, NC Traffic Violation Lawyer & Law Firm Offers Free Consultation

Navigating the legal avenues of traffic violations can feel like a daunting task when encountered on your own. When managing your driving record, it can be invaluable to understand the different degrees of violations, the varying point-value system on your driving record and car insurance, and how to contest certain violations to remove them from your record.

That’s why it is paramount to have the aid of a local Cherryville traffic violations attorney if you are accused of committing a traffic violation. It is especially critical to consult an attorney with decades of experience in handling traffic violation cases in North Carolina. Consult the Law Firm of Brent D. Ratchford for experienced handling of your traffic violation case. Our firm can achieve the most optimal outcome for your individual case and protect the overall long-term health of your driving record. Contact us today.