Eric Skager Law helps drivers in High Point when they face traffic charges involving school zone infractions. If you’ve received a ticket, you might be wondering what to do next. These violations can bring fines, license suspensions, and unnecessary stress. With an experienced attorney to guide you, handling these challenges becomes much simpler. Contact my firm today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Being Charged with Breaking School Zone Traffic Laws?
You don’t have to have a lawyer when facing a traffic ticket over a school zone infraction. However, an admission of guilt or guilty verdict can leave you facing stiff fines and eventually cost you your ability to drive in North Carolina. A skilled High Point School Zone Infraction Lawyer can help get tickets thrown out in some cases or get charges and punishments reduced in other cases.
Even if you feel you are guilty, a lawyer can still work on your behalf for a much better outcome than you might obtain alone.
A lawyer would provide these protections and others:
- Help you get the charges dismissed
- Help you earn reduced charges
- Help you earn a reduced sentence
- Help you keep your license
- Keep points off your license
- Avoid car insurance rates that you can’t afford
- Represent you in court
A skilled lawyer also fully investigates your case and makes sure the police report and the case against you are completely accurate. All evidence in your favor will be uncovered and used to help build a strong defense.
Breaking the Speed Limit Around High Point Schools
School zone speed limits are in place to protect the smallest and most precious lives. Around High Point, the school zone speed limit is often posted as 25 mph during school hours and during the school year.
However, drivers should keep in mind that some schools go year round and school zone speed limits will be enforced in all the months of the year. This is the case around Oak Hill Elementary School along Wrightenberry Street.
Law Enforcement are understandably concerned with speeders around any school. The speed limits around school zones will be set by local authorities and marked with signs and in some areas, flashing lights. There is a limit to how low a school zone speed limit my be set.
N.C.G.S. § 20-141.1. Speed limits in school zones.
“The Board of Transportation or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions may, by ordinance, set speed limits lower than those designated in G.S. 20-141 for areas adjacent to or near a public, private or parochial school. Limits set pursuant to this section shall become effective when signs are erected giving notice of the school zone, the authorized speed limit, and the days and hours when the lower limit is effective, or by erecting signs giving notice of the school zone, the authorized speed limit and which indicate the days and hours the lower limit is effective by an electronic flasher operated with a time clock. Limits set pursuant to this section may be enforced only on days when school is in session, and no speed limit below 20 miles per hour may be set under the authority of this section. A person who drives a motor vehicle in a school zone at a speed greater than the speed limit set and posted under this section is responsible for an infraction and is required to pay a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). (1977, c. 902, s. 2; 1979, c. 613; 1997-341, s. 1.1; 2011-64, s. 1.)”
Punishments for Speeding in a High Point School Zone
People caught going too fast through a school zone will face stiff fines and have points added against their drivers licenses:
- Drivers face a minimum fine of $250…with an additional $200 or more in court fees
- Drivers will likely get 3 points applied to their driver’s license
- Drivers could have their driver’s license suspended if they accumulate too many points on their driver’s licenses over a three-year period
- Drivers may face an enormous jump in car insurance premiums
How Can a Lawyer Help Me Fight a School Zone Speeding Ticket?
Your Eric Skager attorney fully investigates your accident and collects every shred of evidence of what actually happened.
Officers of the law can make mistakes and they can also be under pressure to write a certain amount of tickets.
We want to clear your name, but if you were guilty of speeding, that doesn’t mean you have to face the full impact of a guilty verdict. If a dismissal of charges wasn’t possible, your lawyer still works to greatly improve the outcome of your court hearing.
Your lawyer would be seeking reduced charges on your behalf. If you were convicted, your lawyer would negotiate for reduced punishment and financial penalties. Your lawyer is also your best bet to help you keep your driver’s license so you can continue to go to work and continue to support your family.
In some cases, you might have a chance to avoid all punishment in your case. Your lawyer would examine the evidence and explore all options.
These are some of the defenses that might get school zone driving charges dismissed:
- Showing problems with a radar gun or Lidar (laser) detector the officer used
- Contending that a school zone speeding stop was made outside the officer’s jurisdiction
- Asserting your constitutional rights were violated by the officer
- Proving the officer charged the wrong driver
- Showing that the school zone speed limit wasn’t properly posted
- Demonstrating that school zone lights weren’t working properly
- Demonstrating that school was not in session when you were stopped
Contact Eric Skager Law After Being Charged With a Speeding Zone Violation in High Point
When you get hit with school zone tickets in High Point, it can mean big fines or even a suspension of your driver’s license. This could put you in a tough spot financially and mentally, but you don’t have to face the situation alone. My firm, Eric Skager Law, has the experience and resources you need to get through the situation. We can help all residents of Guilford County with their traffic tickets. Contact us today for a free consultation.
