How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Record in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, the impact of a traffic violation on your driving record depends on the severity of the violation. For example, a speeding ticket might stay on your record for three years, while a more serious offense like a DWI can be on your record for seven years or longer.
Understanding how tickets impact your driving record and how your record impacts your life is crucial for all North Carolina drivers. This comprehensive guide offers all of that information and more.
What Are Some Examples of North Carolina Traffic Violations?
North Carolina law categorizes traffic violations by their severity, and each category carries different consequences:
Lesser Offenses
Lesser traffic offenses typically involve administrative issues rather than dangerous behavior.
Examples include:
- Driving without registration
- Driving without a license
- Driving without insurance
More Serious Offenses
More serious traffic violations pose a greater risk to public safety and can result in more significant penalties, including points on your license.
Examples include:
- Running a red light
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Making an illegal U-turn
- Improper passing
Very Serious Offenses
Severe traffic violations are often criminal offenses that pose significant danger to others on the road. In turn, they carry serious penalties, including heavy fines and the possibility of incarceration.
Examples include:
- Driving While Impaired (DWI)
- Excessive speeding
- Reckless driving
- Hit-and-run
- Passing a stopped school bus
What Is the North Carolina DMV Points System?
North Carolina uses a point system to track driving violations. Each offense is assigned a certain number of points:
- Minor offenses – Lesser offenses, such as speeding 1-10 mph over the speed limit, may add two points to your record.
- More serious offenses – More serious violations, such as running a red light or stop sign, may add three points to your record.
- Major offenses – The most severe violations, such as DWI or reckless driving, may add four points to your record.
What Are the Possible Consequences of Getting a Traffic Ticket?
Receiving traffic tickets in North Carolina can have several consequences, including:
- Fines and court costs – These financial penalties for traffic violations can add up quickly. Failure to pay them can result in additional fees, a suspended license, and even an arrest warrant.
- Points on your driving record – Violations can add points that can remain on your record for three years or longer, impact your insurance rate and premiums, and potentially result in license suspension.
- License suspension – If you pile up too many points on your North Carolina driver’s license, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend it, impacting your ability to earn a living and handle daily tasks.
- Increased insurance premiums – Insurers examine your driving record when calculating rates. Even a few points can lead to higher premiums.
What Is the Difference Between a Driver’s License Record and an Insurance Record?
The N.C. DMV maintains your driver’s license record. The agency tracks points, suspensions, and violations over time. Your insurance record is a summary of your driving history that auto insurance companies use to determine risk and calculate premiums.
Insurers may raise your rates if you have points on your record. They may even consider violations that have since fallen off your driving record, such as severe violations like DWIs, when calculating premiums. For this reason, you must carefully consider how you want to handle traffic violations.
What Is a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC)?
A Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) is a legal tool available to judges in North Carolina that allows them to defer entering a conviction for certain traffic violations. Essentially, it offers a “second chance” to drivers so they can avoid getting points added to their record.
People typically use PJCs to reduce the impact of minor traffic violations. Serious offenses, such as DWIs, are not eligible. Speaking with an experienced traffic violation lawyer in North Carolina can help you determine whether a PJC is viable.
What Can I Do If My Driver’s License Gets Suspended Due to Too Many Points on My Record?
If you accumulate 12 or more points within three years, your license will likely face suspension. The length of suspension depends on how many prior suspensions are on your record. Here’s a breakdown:
- 1st Suspension – 60 days
- 2nd Suspension – 6 months
- 3rd Suspension – 1 year
Drivers with suspended licenses may be eligible for limited driving privileges or alternative sentencing. You should work with a skilled traffic violation attorney on these cases.
Is It Possible to Clear My North Carolina Driving Record?
In certain circumstances, it may be possible to negotiate for a lesser impact on your record or remove existing points. Your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the severity of the offense in a plea deal for a lesser charge. For example, a court may allow a plea to an “improper equipment” charge instead of a speeding offense, which carries no points on your record.
Sometimes, you can complete an approved defensive driving course that will remove points from your driving record or prevent additional points.
Without pursuing one of the above options, you may have points on your record for a minimum of three years, and potentially, for significantly longer. So, you may face increased insurance premiums and an elevated risk of license suspension.
Contact a North Carolina Traffic Ticket Defense Lawyer Near You
The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., has protected the rights of North Carolina drivers for three generations. In that time, we’ve earned a reputation for compassionate support and tenacious advocacy, as numerous heartfelt testimonials from our former clients show:
“I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the entire firm. As my case draws to a close, I felt moved to express my appreciation. Your experience and professionalism have proved invaluable over the last year and a half. I am confronted knowing that I can put the past behind me and move on! Mr. Warlick, you made that possible.”
– Paula Prewitt, former client
Don’t let a traffic violation linger on your record and impact your life. Contact us today for a free consultation.
