speeding ticket reductions in north carolina
Below are summaries of various remedies available. But not all of the counties offer the same remedies.
5 or 9 mph Over the Posted Limit.
NC Drivers:
-Insurance Points: if you have not had a "moving violation" in the past three (3) years, or been in an at fault accident in the last three years of $1800 or less on the insurance policy, a reduction to a speed of 10mph or less over the original charge will not result in insurance points being assessed against you.
-DMV Points. NC separates DMV and Insurance points. Insurance points are used to determine your premiums while the DMV points are a record tracking system to ensure you do not reach 12 points in a three year span. I am focused on insurance points since they are what are will keep your rates down, not DMV points. If you are found guilty of speeding in a 55 mph zone or higher, you will receive 3 DMV points. If it is lower than 55mph, then you will receive 2 DMV points.
Non-NC Drivers: Call your Insurance Agent or DMV: Your insurance point system is probably similar to the one in North Carolina.
Prayer for Judgment Continued
("PJC"). This is North Carolina's version of Deferred Adjudication (used in most states). A "judgment" is not entered, but the PJC is reported to NCDMV (and your state ifan out-of-state driver). For NC DMV purposes: they see it; they just do not act on it and do not assess points for the violation unless you have a CDL license or were driving a commercial vehicle or you've had more than two (2) PJCs in the past five (5) years. DMV points may be important if you have lots of driving points within a three (3) year period. But DMV points are different from insurance points. For insurance Purposes: a PJC is not a conviction so it will not add driving points or increase your
insurance rates. For insurance purposes you are allowed one (1) PJC every three (3) years per insurance POLICY (sometimes this is for the entire family) without your rates being increased regardless of whether you have a CDL or were driving a commercial vehicle. Eligibility: A PJC is completely up to the presiding judge. But generally you are eligible if your speed is less than 20mph over the posted limit and you've not received any: (1) 4pt violations orrevocations in past 5yrs; (2) DWI in past 10 yrs; and (3) more than 6pts
total in past 3 yrs. Reducing a future ticket to 9mph does not "activate" a prior PJC.
Improper Equipment
In NC, Improper Equipment is not a moving violation and thus always more beneficial than a speeding conviction. It is actually a lesser included offense of speeding. If you are eligible it is clearly your best option, but this remedy is not always available. In Mecklenburg and Rowan County you must produce a driving history showing you have not benefitted from an IE in the past five (3) years.
Additionally, Mecklenburg and Rowan County will not grant an IE if you have had a previous DWI on your record.
Unsafe Movement
If within the past three (3) years you have already had a PJC and a "moving violation" a reduction to 9mph over the limit or a PJC will help you avoid an insurance increase (although a PJC might help you avoid DMV points when you have a points problem). So if the goal at this point is to minimize your insurance increase, unsafe movement has less of an impact than speeding. A conviction for a highway ticket (speed zone greater than 45mph) creates a 45% insurance increase. Unsafe movement creates a 25% increase. In both cases the increase lasts for three (3) years. This is also used when a 9mph reduction would result in a license suspension.
Exceeding a Safe Speed
This is usually used when a 14mph reduction would result in a license suspension.
5 or 9 mph Over the Posted Limit.
NC Drivers:
-Insurance Points: if you have not had a "moving violation" in the past three (3) years, or been in an at fault accident in the last three years of $1800 or less on the insurance policy, a reduction to a speed of 10mph or less over the original charge will not result in insurance points being assessed against you.
-DMV Points. NC separates DMV and Insurance points. Insurance points are used to determine your premiums while the DMV points are a record tracking system to ensure you do not reach 12 points in a three year span. I am focused on insurance points since they are what are will keep your rates down, not DMV points. If you are found guilty of speeding in a 55 mph zone or higher, you will receive 3 DMV points. If it is lower than 55mph, then you will receive 2 DMV points.
Non-NC Drivers: Call your Insurance Agent or DMV: Your insurance point system is probably similar to the one in North Carolina.
Prayer for Judgment Continued
("PJC"). This is North Carolina's version of Deferred Adjudication (used in most states). A "judgment" is not entered, but the PJC is reported to NCDMV (and your state ifan out-of-state driver). For NC DMV purposes: they see it; they just do not act on it and do not assess points for the violation unless you have a CDL license or were driving a commercial vehicle or you've had more than two (2) PJCs in the past five (5) years. DMV points may be important if you have lots of driving points within a three (3) year period. But DMV points are different from insurance points. For insurance Purposes: a PJC is not a conviction so it will not add driving points or increase your
insurance rates. For insurance purposes you are allowed one (1) PJC every three (3) years per insurance POLICY (sometimes this is for the entire family) without your rates being increased regardless of whether you have a CDL or were driving a commercial vehicle. Eligibility: A PJC is completely up to the presiding judge. But generally you are eligible if your speed is less than 20mph over the posted limit and you've not received any: (1) 4pt violations orrevocations in past 5yrs; (2) DWI in past 10 yrs; and (3) more than 6pts
total in past 3 yrs. Reducing a future ticket to 9mph does not "activate" a prior PJC.
Improper Equipment
In NC, Improper Equipment is not a moving violation and thus always more beneficial than a speeding conviction. It is actually a lesser included offense of speeding. If you are eligible it is clearly your best option, but this remedy is not always available. In Mecklenburg and Rowan County you must produce a driving history showing you have not benefitted from an IE in the past five (3) years.
Additionally, Mecklenburg and Rowan County will not grant an IE if you have had a previous DWI on your record.
Unsafe Movement
If within the past three (3) years you have already had a PJC and a "moving violation" a reduction to 9mph over the limit or a PJC will help you avoid an insurance increase (although a PJC might help you avoid DMV points when you have a points problem). So if the goal at this point is to minimize your insurance increase, unsafe movement has less of an impact than speeding. A conviction for a highway ticket (speed zone greater than 45mph) creates a 45% insurance increase. Unsafe movement creates a 25% increase. In both cases the increase lasts for three (3) years. This is also used when a 9mph reduction would result in a license suspension.
Exceeding a Safe Speed
This is usually used when a 14mph reduction would result in a license suspension.
