CHARLOTTE TRAFFIC ATTORNEYS

WHAT IS AN INFRACTION ?

All Traffic citations have a case number assigned to them once they are issued. The abbreviation “IF” indicates that the citation is an infraction. Infractions generally are not as serious as criminal traffic citations and carry less points and consequences. Examples of infractions include: failure to carry liability insurance, no inspection, expired registration.

WHAT IS A CITATION ?

A traffic citation is the piece of paper you receive from the officer that indicates you personal information, the officer’s name, what you were cited for and the date and place where you must attend court.

WHY SHOULD I BE SO CONCERNED WITH POINTS ON MY LICENSE? WILL MY PREMIUMS GO UP?

In North Carolina and in most states your car insurance company surcharge you by several hundred dollars for each placed on your driver’s license this is called insurance points. Theses insurance points are valid for three years. Insurance points may differ from your driver’s license points from DMV. DMV may forgive certain situations that your insurance company will not. You can discuss option with your traffic attorney concerning on how to plead to your citation to avoid insurance points.

WHY ARE SOME TRAFFIC CITATIONS CRIMINAL?

The case number will typically include the abbreviation of “CR” if it is a criminal offense. When a citation is criminal that means the fines are increased, and the consequences are  more severe. By pleading guilty to a criminal case will most likely suspend your license and or you could face jail time. Examples of criminal traffic citations include: Driving with a revoked license, Driving with no operator’s license, driving while intoxicated, driving while under the influence, reckless driving, driving over 15 MPH over the speed limit.

DO I HAVE TO PAY FINES?

Typically yes you have to pay some sort of traffic fine, depending on whether you plea as charged, or receive a reduction. These can be reduced depending on the plea your Attorney can have entered in for you.

DO I HAVE TO ATTEND COURT?

If you want to plead as charged on an infraction you can mail in the fines and pay them. With criminal traffic offenses a mandatory court appearance is required to enter in a plea of guilty or not guilty. However, an Attorney can have your court appearance waived and appear on your behalf.

I CAN NOT MAKE COURT, WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS MY COURT DATE?

If you do not have your case continued and do not appear for a court date a failure to appear will be issued. What this means is that the court will record the fact that you did not appear for your court date and add additional fines for your failure to appear on your scheduled court date. In addition, all state DMV now can update their systems and communicate electronically and will show that you fail to appear in this state for a traffic ticket and suspend your license. This can be corrected to a certain extent. An Attorney can have your case placed back on the calendar and handled, but you will still have to pay the additional fine for failing to appear in most counties. That is why in certain circumstances it is better to hire an Attorney from the beginning to hire the case.

Maxwell Law Firm, PLLC assists clients with representation with Mecklenburg County Traffic Tickets, Cabarrus County Traffic tickets, License restorations, reckless driving charges, high speed violations, warrant strikes, and other infractions. You may contact them at 704-780-1100 or online  for your free traffic consultation.