Getting pulled over and ticketed for a moving violation in North Carolina or elsewhere can be unnerving, but many drivers assume they should just pay the ticket and move on. This is not always the best option. Traffic law can be complex; it pays to have an experienced traffic attorney on your side.
A traffic ticket is not just a ticket. Many people just plead guilty and pay a fine believing that is the end of the matter. Under North Carolina traffic law, the Department of Motor Vehicles has a complex system that assigns points for each offense; these points are additive and may result in an automatic revocation of your driving privileges if too many points accrue within a specific time period. Currently and for most offenses, accumulating 12 points within a 3-year period is sufficient to result in the revocation of your driver’s license. The DMV may also suspend your license in other situations. For example, if you have two convictions for speeding in excess of 55 mph within a 12-month period, your license will be suspended with the second conviction. Convictions for vehicular manslaughter or prearranged racing, or failure to submit to testing for drugs or alcohol are just a few of the offenses that will also result in an automatic license revocation, regardless of accumulated points.
This is above and beyond the payment of a fine in District Court upon a guilty plea or finding of guilty. Never plead guilty to a traffic ticket in any state, including North Carolina, as it has far reaching effects upon your driving privileges in the state. It also greatly increases your insurance rates, as discussed in this video by traffic lawyer Steve Barnhill:
The cost of a good traffic attorney is far out-weighed by the increase in the insurance you will pay over the next few years for failure to handle the ticket properly. Brinkley Walser routinely handles traffic offenses and it takes seriously its commitment to its clients.
