When you’re driving along I-74 or cutting through High Point on Greensboro Road, you might not expect to get pulled over for speeding. But it’s something that can easily happen, whether you’re familiar with the area or not. And sometimes, it might leave you with more than a speeding ticket if you’re clocked going too fast. My team at Eric Skager Law can guide you through this process. Set up a free consultation today.
Is a Speeding Ticket a Misdemeanor in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, a speeding ticket isn’t automatically a misdemeanor. The vast majority of them are just infractions, where you pay a fine and move on. But the more you’re over the posted speed limit, it could turn into a misdemeanor. Usually, this happens if you’re clocked going:
- 15 mph or more over the speed limit.
- Faster than 80 mph, regardless of the posted limit.
These situations can be charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor, which could mean:
- A mandatory court appearance
- Fines and court costs
- Points on your driver’s license or a possible suspension
So, whether or not your speeding ticket becomes a misdemeanor depends on the details of where you were and what speed you were clocked at. Of course, a potential misdemeanor doesn’t always stop speeding from happening. And when you’re the one who just got pulled over, the situation suddenly becomes a lot more personal.
Should I Challenge My Speeding Ticket in Court?
Getting a speeding ticket is really just the starting point. What you decide to do next can shape what happens with your license, your insurance, and even your driving record. That’s why it’s so personal.
Most of the time, you’re going to just pay the fine and move on with your life. That might work if you have a clean record or aren’t facing a misdemeanor charge, but if you are, you need to really think about what you can do to challenge the ticket in court. That means looking for:
- Mistakes on the ticket, like the speed listed, the location of the stop, or your vehicle information.
- How your speed was measured, including the radar or lidar device used.
- Dashcam footage or photos of the area, especially if road signs were hard to see or confusing.
- Weather or visibility conditions at the time you were stopped.
- Statements from passengers or witnesses who were there.
If you decide to go to traffic court, these things are going to be crucial to the outcome. But there’s other options depending on the situation. My team can see if reducing the charge might be possible or asking for a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC), which can sometimes help limit the impact on your license or insurance. One way or the other, you have options.
Get Help With a North Carolina Speeding Ticket From Eric Skager Law
When you get a speeding ticket in North Carolina, the outcome can vary. But what you don’t want to do is make a poor decision that impacts your life moving forward. If you’re clocked going too fast for the conditions, you could find yourself facing a misdemeanor. But even still, you have options that my firm, Eric Skager Law, can help you with.
My team can help you by:
- Walking you through what the ticket actually means
- Looking closely at the stop and how the speed was measured
- Finding a strategy that helps protect your license and driving record
If you’ve gotten a speeding ticket in North Carolina and aren’t sure what to do next, talking through your options can help you understand where you stand and what steps make the most sense. Set up a free consultation today.