How should I take care of my speeding ticket in NC if I have a CA driver's license?

Question

I was on I-85 S about to get onto 15-501, heading to Duke to take a midterm, when a state trooper pulled me over. He said that I was going 92 in a 55 work zone. I think that's impossible because I admit I am guilty of speeding sometimes, but this time I was not in a rush. I had a microeconomics midterm at 11 AM, and I was on the freeway at 10:20, so I wasn't in a rush so I don't know how he clocked me going so fast. On my ticket, he wrote the time as 9 AM when in fact he pulled me over circa 10:30 AM. I know that in NC 15 mph over means automatic license suspension, but CA is not a member of the NRVC. My insurance already costs $2500 a year, and 4 points on my license would double that, AT LEAST.

Any constructive help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and I failed the econ midterm, so please, no "you deserve that ticket" type comments. Is there any significance to the fact that he wrote the time wrong? I was in bed at 9 AM, NOT going 92 mph on the freeway.

Also, I am a rising sophomore so I will be in Durham for at least another three years, and I only go back to Los Angeles 3-4 times a year during breaks, and even when I do it's at most for a week. I will be doing the majority of my driving in Durham, so it is imperative that I not get my license suspended.

And my car was purchased in CA, so insurance premiums will be determined based on my CA DMV records. I have a completely clean record. I basically need a lot of help finding lawyers, because I don't know who to go to and how sure they can reduce the ticket to an equipment violation so I don't get points on my license. I don't care about paying fines, I just don't want points.

So, Robert S, are you telling me that you have never gone above the speed limit in your driving experience? Ever?

Please. If you're not going to say anything constructive then just don't say it at all. Answers like "ask yourself...is it the right thing to do?" are completely unnecessary. And yeah, I'm definitely NOT going to learn from my experience because obviously I LOVE the possibility of having my license suspended and my insurance doubling and I get so THRILLED when I find out that I'm failing college. To everyone else who has answered so far, thanks a lot, especially the police officer--it's been helpful, at least a lot more so than "Just pay the fine and learn from the experience."

When I got onto the freeway, there was only a sign saying the speed limit was 55 MPH. I took the same freeway again, and at an earlier intersection there was a sign saying that it was a work zone. So at the time of the ticket, I had not known that it was a work zone. There were just those fat orange cones lined up along the sides of the freeway and they blocked one lane on the left. There are about five lanes on I-85 S. I got on from Duke St and the officer wrote down Guess Rd but I was not pulled over until I was in the middle of the turn of the on-ramp for 15-501. I'm pretty sure I was doing 15+, but I really don't think I was doing 92, or if I was I didn't see it.

I've heard about the Prayer for Judgment, but does that guarantee I won't get points? Like I've said before, I REALLY don't care about paying for fines or for lawyers, but I really can not have points on my license, just because my insurance would cost five grand a year, in addition to my 47 grand college tuition.

Answer 1

Either fight the ticket or pay it. If you were speeding in a work zone you are guilty. Anything over 55 was speeding. Get a lawyer to help you with the case or just pay it and buy a cheaper car.

Answer 2

Were you doing 15+? If not, I think you have to preserve your license, which means going to court. Were you, in fact, speeding? If you were, accept that and pay the $250. However, where is the workzone at that intersection? Was it really a workzone at the time of the alleged offense? Or were there just signs saying so? Anyone who lives in the Triangle knows that those signs go up about six months before any work actually starts (isn't the NCDOT just wonderful?!)

Assuming you are telling us the truth, my gut reaction is to contest the ticket. As previously advised, I'd leave out the bit about the time. As Durham courthouse is swamped with cases at the moment I think you stand a good chance of getting a deal.

Have you considered asking for a Prayer for Judgement?

EDIT: The full term is "Prayer for Judgement Continued." Essentially, you are asking the judge to defer judgement on the matter. If you get no more tickets in a certain time you suffer no consequences.

Mind you, insurance points are another matter. Are you sure your insurance company won't find out?

Answer 3

Well people, The fact of the matter is - The Law is the Law and thats how cases are won and lost!

If you can prove that you was some where else at the time the officer says you committed the offence then you have in essence won your case. Bottom Line. Maybe you went through a toll or something. Stopped for coffee and have the receipt, Stopped for gas, Think harder I'm sure there is something.

Many people feel the Law is based on moral issues so when they are guilty of something they don't fight it. But that is not the case. The Law is based on FACTS!

Think about this... Why is it that in court they ask you " Do you swear to tell the truth, The whole truth and nothing but the truth" And then everyone that walks into a courtroom with an attorney is instructed to plead NOT GUILTY? Whether they are guilty or not. Sounds like perjury to me.

Simple because... The LAW is your INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY! Whats so hard to understand people.

So the way I would handle this is... If i lived near NC I would fight it in court. If I lived too far away I would just pay it! Because it would end up costing you more to fight it.

Answer 4

Pay the ticket or at least go to court and enter a plea. The 9 a.m. time you are looking at is probably the court time. Look to the right above the speeding charge area that says how fast you were going and look above that block. There should be a time there that reflects the time of the offense. Even if he screwed the time it is no big deal. Those errors are referred to as scribblers errors and the courts usually amend them in open court.

If you don't pay the ticket or show up for court they will issue an Order for Arrest and pick you up on that. It works like a warrant so basically you'll sit in jail until you make bond.

Go to court and see the judge and or DA. They'll usually let you plea the speed down.

What your insurance company does about the ticket is up to them. The Police don't have anything to do with the way they run their business. Personally I think the insurance companies use us as an excuse to fleece their customers. Tickets can be an indicator about someones driving but its not really that accurate. People get pulled over all the time and not issued citations but that does not influence their rates.....only if they are cited. However, insurance is a necessary item for drivers so we all have to deal with it.

Answer 5

If I understand this question correctly, you have gotten a speeding ticket in North Carolina. You are, however, properly licensed in California because you are maintaining your status as a California resident while you go to school in N.C.

If you are convicted of speeding, that WILL be reported to the California DMV (California is a member of the DLC). The effect it will have with the California DMV will be the same as if you were convicted of speeding in California: i.e., one point on your record (with whatever effect that will have on your insurance).

It is possible that North Carolina could suspend your privilege to drive in North Carolina, however.

Answer 6

The NC ticket shouldn't show up on your CA driving record. Rarely do the DMV offices communicate. I would see if it is possible to go to traffic school. Fighting it doesn't work.

Answer 7

Quit looking for loopholes and ask yourself... Is it the right thing to do?


Just pay it and learn from the experience.