People who get traffic tickets sometimes believe their best option is to plead guilty, pay the fine, and forget about it. The problem is that forgetting about it will not be easy when your insurance premium goes up or you receive points on your license.
Hiring an attorney who is experienced in defending against traffic charges in Elizabeth City is a wise investment. They can often resolve the case in a manner that saves you considerable money and inconvenience in the long run. Contact Parks Zeigler, PLLC to begin working with a trusted traffic attorney today.
Tickets Can Have Unexpected Consequences
North Carolina has a points system that applies to traffic law violations. Each moving violation carries a specific number of points. The number of points an offense carries ranges from one to five. Failing to secure your child in a car seat is a two-point violation; you get three points for running a red light or driving without insurance, a hit and run with only property damage carries four points, and passing a stopped school bus carries five points.
When you pay the fine, you are acknowledging that you committed the violation and may get points on your license. Your driver’s license will be suspended if you accumulate twelve points within three years. You can save the cost and potential impact of a driver’s license suspension by contesting traffic tickets.
Depending on the circumstances, a skilled traffic defense attorney in Elizabeth City can get a ticket reduced to one that carries fewer points or no points.
How Traffic Court Works
Traffic tickets that do not result in arrest are typically heard in Criminal District Court. Someone who wants to contest a traffic ticket must show up for a hearing, or they can have an Elizabeth City lawyer represent them.
People defending themselves against traffic tickets often wait several hours before their case is called. There is a common belief that if the police officer who wrote the ticket does not appear, your case will be dismissed, but that is not true.
Rather than waste time in court, perhaps missing work, you can have a defense attorney appear on your behalf. Their familiarity with the system, the prosecutors, and the judge means they are much more likely to get a favorable resolution to the ticket than you would if you fight it without help.
Understanding the Prayer for Judgement Continued
North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-1331.2 allows a procedure called the Prayer for Judgement Continued (PJC) for some minor offenses. If your case is eligible for PJC, you could plead guilty to the offense and request a PJC. If the judge accepts the plea and grants the PJC request, you will pay for the cost of court, and, generally, no further action is taken against you by the DMV.
North Carolina does not allow PJCs for DWIs, when you were driving 25 mph over the limit, or when you pass a stopped school bus. The Department of Motor Vehicles allows only two PJCs in a five-year period. Insurance companies typically allow only one PJC within a three-year period.
Your plea of guilty still appears as a conviction on your driving record with a PJC. If you have a commercial driver’s license or plan to enlist in the military, a PJC on your record could impact your employment or interfere with your enlistment. An experienced attorney in Elizabeth City will evaluate your situation and discuss whether seeking a PJC might be a good option for defending against traffic charges in your specific case.
Contact an Elizabeth City Attorney to Defend Against a Traffic Violation
Many people do not consider fighting a minor traffic offense worth the time and effort. However, a guilty plea could lead to higher insurance rates and even a license suspension, depending on your circumstances. With that in mind, investing in defending against traffic charges in Elizabeth City makes more sense.
The attorneys at Park Zeigler, PLLC have the legal skills and local knowledge to obtain the best result for the circumstances in most cases. Reach out today to find out how we can help you.
