Eric Skager Law helps people when they get a speeding ticket in North Carolina. For most people, a couple speeding tickets over the years is common. But for others, it’s an ongoing issue that results in fines and penalties that threaten their record and get their license suspended. My firm can help you no matter what your situation is. Set up a free consultation today.
How Does North Carolina Law Handle Speeding?
If you’re like most drivers in North Carolina, you’ve gotten a speeding ticket at some point in your life. And while you can certainly just pay the ticket and move on, you need to understand how the law approaches speeding. Basically, it’s built around one thing: safety in a given situation. To do that, the law sets a baseline with its basic speeding law and goes further with absolute speed limits. Every driver has to drive at a speed that’s considered:
- Safe for the prevailing conditions.
But going further, the state sets the following absolute speed limits:
- 25 mph when you’re driving inside city or town limits.
- 55 mph outside city limits for most vehicles (school buses follow different rules).
- 70 mph on the interstate highways.
This is the baseline for any speeding ticket you get, and the more serious the violation is, the heavier the fines and penalties will be. But again, it’s all based on the circumstances
What Are the Fines and Penalties That Come With a Speeding Ticket in North Carolina?
Obviously, the circumstances around your speeding ticket are important when you want to look at the possible fines and penalties. As you might expect, though, everything depends on what speed you were clocked at and how far over the posted limit you were. Here’s a breakdown:
- 1-10 mph over the limit. This is usually the lowest tier. You’ll pay a base fine set by the court plus court costs. Fines typically range between $10 and $50, while you can expect around 2-3 points on your license.
- 11-15 mph over the limit. With higher speeds comes stiffer penalties. If you were between 11 and 15 mph over the limit, you can expect fines between $50 and $100, with at least 3 points being added to your license. This is also usually the range that can up your insurance premiums.
- Over 16 mph. The fines and penalties begin to feel heavier at this point. Not only are base fines higher, but judges have more leeway to increase costs. Speeding this much over the limit is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $200 and a possible 20 days in jail. You can also expect 3 plus points on your license.
- School and construction zones. Speeding in one of these zones is punished heavily, and with good reason. Even if you were 1 mph over the limit in one of these places, you can expect a mandatory $250 fine and 3 or more points on your license.
What all of these penalties and fines have in common are simple: they’re in place to act as a deterrent to speeding. But as you know, just because there’s punishment on the table doesn’t always stop the behavior. At the same time, though, this situation is personal to you. So, if you’re facing down fines, points on your license, and possible jail time, you need to know how to protect yourself.
What Evidence Should I Look For After I Get a Speeding Ticket?
Getting a speeding ticket is only the start of the process in North Carolina. What you decide to do after that shapes your future. Whether you pay the fine, shave down points on your license, or try to go to court to challenge the speeding ticket, it all hinges on one thing: evidence. Here’s what to look for that can help you in this situation:
- Errors on the ticket, from the speed you were going to the location you were stopped at.
- Problems with the instruments used to clock your speed.
- Dashcam footage, pictures of road signs, or weather reports that point to poor visibility.
- Statements from passengers or bystanders.
- Your driving history and overall record.
Remember, no matter what level of punishment you’re facing, there’s a court process in place. You have the ability to either pay the fine and move on or go to court and use this evidence to challenge what happened. There’s further options from there, like getting your fine reduced or asking for a Prayer For Judgement Continued (PJC). One way or the other, though, this is something you’re going to have to deal with. The good news is that you don’t have to go through it alone.
Eric Skager Law Can Help You With a Speeding Ticket in North Carolina
When you get a speeding ticket in North Carolina, everything depends on the details. If you were only slightly over the limit, you can just pay the fine and move on. But for more serious tickets, you’re looking at the possible loss of your license or worse—jail time.
But a speeding ticket and the penalties that come with it don’t have to be the end of the story. At Eric Skager Law, we know how to help you protect your record and move forward. We do this by:
- Guiding you through the process step-by-step.
- Investigating the details of your speeding ticket, from the stop to the fines or other penalties.
- Figuring out a strategy that makes the most sense for your particular situation.
Most of all, we can make this process easier and less stressful. You have enough to deal with in your day-to-day life without worrying about heavy fines or losing your license altogether for speeding. To talk through your options, reach out today for a free consultation.