There are serious consequences for getting a speeding ticket in North Carolina, such as high fees, points on your driving record, insurance points, and increased insurance premiums. Additionally, a serious speeding violation may result in a revocation of your driver’s license and may also be charged as a misdemeanor offense. This will leave you with a permanent criminal record which may impact your employment and housing opportunities. With so much at stake, it is crucial to consult an experienced traffic ticket attorney.
Hancock Law Firm, PLLC, a premier criminal defense practice located in Carteret, handles speeding tickets throughout North Carolina. Founding attorney Joel Hancock is well-versed in the applicable vehicle and traffic laws and has a proven history of having speeding tickets reduced and dismissed. Let’s face it, we all speed now and then, but speeding is taken very seriously because of its inherent threat to public safety. When you work with us, we will do everything in our power to protect your driving privileges.
Common Speeding Violations in North Carolina
Depending on the circumstances, there are a number of speeding ticket violations that you could be charged with, including:
- Speeding above the posted speed limit — Obviously, you can be ticketed for driving faster than the posted speed limit. If there is no posted speed limit, however, the speed limit is 35 mph in a municipality, 55 mph outside of a municipality’s borders, and 70 mph on a highway. Driving more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit or over 80 mph is a serious speeding violation that is charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor.
- Speeding in a work zone — Considered particularly dangerous, speeding in a work zone has a fine of $250 for a conviction.
- Speeding in a school zone — Because speeding in a school zone in North Carolina poses a danger to children, this violation is taken very seriously by prosecutors. A school zone is typically designated by a sign or electronic flasher. The fine for speeding in a school zone is $250 and a conviction will also result in insurance points.
- Speed competition — Also referred to as unlawful racing, there are two types of speed competition charges: pre-arranged and not pre-arranged competitions. A pre-arranged speed competition is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which may result in a 3-year driver’s license suspension and possible seizure of the vehicle. A non-prearranged competition is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which could lead to a 1-year discretionary suspension of the offender’s driver’s license.
- Reckless driving — This offense may be charged as driving carelessly or with disregard of the safety of others, driving without due caution, or driving at a speed or in a manner that could endanger others; it is often charged in conjunction with a speeding offense. Reckless driving is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, and a driver’s license suspension.
It is worth noting that it is also a violation of North Carolina law to drive on the interstate or highway roads at less than 40 mph where the posted speed limit is 55 mph or less than 45 mph on a road with a speed limit of 60 mph or higher. It is also a speeding violation to drive so slowly on a highway that you impede the normal flow of traffic.
Penalties for Speeding Ticket Violations
The penalties for speeding in North Carolina depend on factors such as how far above the posted speed limit you were driving and where you received the ticket. While the costs could be different in various court systems, potential penalties include:
- Fines ranging from $10 to $250 or higher if you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense
- Court costs of approximately $200 to $250
- Driver’s license points
- Insurance points and increased insurance costs
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Jail sentence
- Permanent criminal record
By working with an experienced traffic violations attorney, however, you may be able to reduce the penalties and long-term consequences.
Contact Our Experienced Carteret County Speeding Ticket Attorney
At Hancock Law Firm, PLLC, we have extensive experience handling speeding ticket violations. Some of the options we may explore include reducing the violation to improper equipment or having the speed reduced. On the other hand, it may be possible to arrange for a prayer for judgment, or PJC, whereby you admit responsibility, but the court does not enter judgment in your case. It is important to remember that these defenses are not available in all cases, which makes it crucial to work with the right criminal defense attorney. If you have been charged with a speeding violation in North Carolina, don’t go it alone. Contact our office today for a free evaluation of your case.