Traffic Violations
Statesville Traffic Violations Attorneys
Protecting Your Driving Privileges in North Carolina
If you are facing conviction for a traffic citation in North Carolina, it is important that you understand such a conviction will not only affect your criminal record, but also your driving privileges. At Gottholm, Welborn & Benton, PLLC, our Taylorsville and Statesville traffic violations lawyers understand the consequences you are facing. We will all work hard to protect your rights and your driver's license now and in the future.
A Strong Commitment to Our Clients
Contact Gottholm, Welborn & Benton, PLLC
From a speeding ticket to a seat belt violation, traffic tickets can have major consequences that affect your license and your insurance premiums for years to come. A licensed driver in North Carolina faces a suspension of his or her license with the accumulation of 12 Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) points in a three-year period. Those points are also reflected in your insurance premiums. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you understand how any traffic violation will affect your driving record, including traffic violations such as:
- Failure to yield
- Failure to stop
- Speeding tickets
- Reckless driving
- Careless driving
- Driving on a revoked license
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without a license
- Improper tags
- All other non-moving and moving violations
North Carolina may, in certain situations, report convictions for moving violations to other state’s licensing departments as well. Being located at the crossroads of I-40 and I-77, we represent clients from across America and understand their particular needs. Most traffic violations do not require presence in court, and most times we can handle the matter on your behalf. Our goal is to minimize the effects a traffic violation may have on your driver’s license and insurance.
Contact Our Hickory Speeding Tickets Lawyers
We can protect your rights in criminal court and help to minimize the effects a traffic violation may have on your driver’s license and insurance. From our offices in Statesville and Taylorsville, we represent clients in Alexander, Catawba, Davie, Iredell, Rowan, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Contact our traffic violations law firm today for more information about your options.
Traffic Violations and the North Carolina Point System
The North Carolina Department of Insurance Safe Driver Incentive Program allows insurers to charge higher premiums to drivers convicted of certain offenses. The following two tables set out the rate of premium increase automobile insurance companies are authorized to assess, and the type of conviction those points are derived from. The third table lists North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle points, also known as driver's license points, and the type of convictions that accrue those points.
|
Points
|
% of Rate Increase
|
Points
|
% of Rate Increase
|
|
1
|
25%
|
7
|
160%
|
|
2
|
45%
|
8
|
190%
|
|
3
|
60%
|
9
|
225%
|
|
4
|
80%
|
10
|
260%
|
|
5
|
105%
|
11
|
300%
|
|
6
|
130%
|
12
|
340%
|
|
Insurance Points
|
Convictions and At-Fault Accidents
|
|
12
|
Manslaughter or negligent homicide
Prearranged highway racing or lending a car for prearranged highway racing
Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death
Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more
Driving commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .04 or more
Driving while impaired
Transporting illegal intoxication liquor for sale
|
|
10
|
Highway racing or lending a car for highway racing
Speeding to elude arrest
|
|
8
|
Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration
Aggressive driving
|
|
4
|
Reckless driving
Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only
Passing a stopped school bus
Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph
Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or greater
Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs
|
|
3
|
At-fault accident resulting in death or total bodily injury* (to all person) in excess of $1,800; OR resulting in total property damage (including to insured’s own property) of $3,000 or more
|
|
2
|
Illegal passing
Following too closely
Driving on wrong side of the road
At-fault accident resulting in total property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) in excess of $1,800 but less than $3,000
Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit provided the total speed is in excess of 55 mph but less than 76 mph
Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed zone of 55 mph or greater
|
|
1
|
All other moving violations
At-fault accident resulting in bodily injury* (to all persons) of $1,800 or less; OR resulting in property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) of $1,800 or less
Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed limit of less than 55 mph
|
|
*
|
No insurance points will apply for bodily injury if the insured furnishes proof that the medical costs were incurred solely for diagnostic purposes.
|
Source: http://www.ncdoi.com/consumer/consumer_publications/automobile%20and%20vehicle/it%20pays%20to%20be%20a%20safe%20driver%20%28insurance%20points%29.pdf
|
NC DMV Points
|
Convictions
|
|
12
|
Driving while impaired
|
|
5
|
Passing a stopped school bus
Aggressive driving
|
|
4
|
Reckless driving
Hit-and-run, property damage only
Illegal passing
Following too closely
Driving on the wrong side of the road
Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian
Failure to yield right of way to bicycle, motor scooter or motorcycle
|
|
3
|
Driving with no license or a license expired for more than a year
Stop light or stop sign violation
Speeding in excess of 55 mph
Failing to yield right of way
Failure to stop for siren
No liability insurance
Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted speed limit
Failure to report accident where such report is required
Driving through safety zone
|
|
2
|
Failure to properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt
All other moving violations
|
|
1
|
Littering
|
Source: http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/driver_services/drivershandbook/download/NCDL_English.pdf