Eric Skager Law helps people in North Carolina when they get a ticket while driving. Nobody wants to get a ticket, but it’s something that happens from time to time. For most people, it’s about paying the ticket and moving on, but for others it means something else: points on their license. Our team can explain how the system works and what you can do to move forward. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Need a Lawyer for This?
Once you’re handed your ticket and you drive away, you’re probably not thinking about what comes next. But once things settle down in the days after, this is a question you’re going to come to. And the honest answer is that you don’t technically need a lawyer for a traffic ticket in North Carolina. A lot of drivers just pay the fine and try to put it behind them. But once points enter the picture, it’s not always that simple.
In North Carolina, certain tickets trigger points through the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Those points don’t just sit quietly on your record, either. If you pick up too many, your license is going to get suspended—or revoked altogether.
So then, it’s a question about what you want to do. My firm can:
- Explain how the points system works.
- Look into the ticket to see how to handle it.
- Help you through the court system if you want to challenge the ticket.
Every situation is different, but when you’re looking at points on your license, the equation changes. It starts to be about how you can work your way back to positive territory. That’s where my firm can help you, and a good starting point for that is looking at how the points system actually works here.
How Does North Carolina’s Points System Work?
Like most states, North Carolina uses a points system for traffic violations. So, it’s not just the ticket that you need to worry about. If you have certain kinds of violations, it means more points on your license. Here’s how it works:
- Certain violations trigger points on your license, and the more serious the violation is, the more points its worth. For example, a minor infraction is worth one point, while the most serious infractions (passing a school bus, reckless driving, etc.) are worth five points.
- If you’re assessed 12 points within a three year period, your license will be suspended for 60 days.
- Once that suspension is up, it only takes 8 points to trigger a new suspension.
- A second suspension suspends your license for 6 months, while a subsequent suspension after that suspends it for one year.
Points on your license are nothing to mess around with, and even though your points are canceled once your suspension is lifted, it’s still important to understand how this system works. Even more importantly, though, it’s important to understand what you need to do to protect your license.
What Evidence Can Help Protect My License?
If you’re trying to avoid points on your license, or at least blunt the impact of them, everything comes into play. One ticket might not seem like a big deal, but if you find yourself accumulating points, you need to start thinking about what you can do to protect yourself. And with that, the details are important:
- The exact charge. Details matter here. There’s a big difference between 9 mph over and 15 mph over the speed limit. But it’s that gap that’s going to determine how many points your ticket is worth.
- Your driving record. Your history also matters. If you’ve had a clean record for years with no or even just a few tickets, it gives us room to work with if you’ve all of a sudden accumulated points.
- Where the violation happened. Location can make a bigger difference than most people realize. A speeding ticket on the interstate is treated much differently than one in a school zone.
- The officer’s notes. What’s written on the ticket also matters. If the officer’s description of what happened is a bit inconsistent, that also gives us room to negotiate the ticket down, saving points on your license.
- Any supporting proof. Of course, there’s also other supporting evidence like dashcam footage, pictures, car repair records, and even weather conditions at the time.
On paper, a ticket can look simple and straightforward. But once you understand how North Carolina’s points system works, you start to see that there’s usually more to it than what’s printed on the front of the ticket. And remember, my firm can help you from the very beginning. Usually, that’s enough to protect your license.
Protect Your Driver’s License in North Carolina with Eric Skager Law
When you’re dealing with North Carolina’s driver’s license points system, you’re not just deciding whether to pay a fine. You’re deciding what your driving record will look like over the next few years.
If you’re looking at a ticket and wondering what it really means for your record, Eric Skager Law will be there to help. Our team will look at your driver’s license, examine your charges, and walk through the process together. Reach out today for a free consultation.