Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog
Should I Fight a Speeding Ticket in Court?
Speeding is a common traffic offense. One minute you are driving along, happy that traffic is light, and the next, you are being pulled over by a police vehicle with a siren and flashing lights. If you get a speeding ticket, it may be annoying. It can also have some other negative impacts on your life. While speeding doesn’t seem to be the most serious problem in the world, it can have a negative impact now and in the future. It may be very worthwhile to fight a speeding ticket or other traffic tickets in court with help from a knowledgeable defense attorney.
Benefits of a Clean Driving Record
A good driving record is essential. It is important to try to maintain an unblemished record for several reasons. Insurance companies offer the best rates to the best drivers. Vehicle insurance rates may increase for those who have speeding tickets or other traffic law infractions on their records. Your car insurance rate could go up by as much as 50% due to a finding of guilt for speeding. If you have a good driving record, you may qualify for a job that requires driving, such as with a rideshare or delivery service. A good driving record prevents you from more severe punishments if you later have an accident or get tickets.
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is an expungement?”
Driver’s License Point System in North Carolina
North Carolina utilizes a point system for traffic infractions. If a driver is convicted of certain traffic violations, they will receive points against their license. Different violations are assessed point values. More serious violations will garner three or more points. When a driver receives 12 points within a three-year period, they will face a license suspension. Speeding can range from 1 to 10 points. Generally, the faster you travel over the posted speed limit, the more points will be assessed.
Defending Speeding Charges
You never know when you will get into a situation where additional points will be assessed on your driving record. Therefore, it is often a good option to fight speeding charges. Keep in mind that if you choose to pay the ticket, you are pleading guilty, and points will be assessed accordingly. There are some ways to defend speeding charges. First, do not pay the ticket. Instead, choose to go to court to defend the charges. There are no acceptable excuses for driving faster than the legal speed limit.
Determine how the officer determined your speed. For example, did they use radar, or did they simply use a rough calculation such as pacing? The method they used can help you provide a viable defense. If radar was used, the officer must have proper training on the equipment, and the equipment must be in good working order. If the officer used pacing or estimation, it is less accurate than radar. In some instances, a speeding charge may be dismissed, or it could be downgraded or reduced.
When you want to challenge a speeding charge, the best results often come with assistance from a knowledgeable attorney. Get a phone, video or in-person consultation by calling at (704) 370-2828 to speak with our detail-oriented and well-versed lawyers with offices in Charlotte, Lake Norman, and Monroe, please contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today or find additional resources here.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.
Source:
Official NCDMV: Driver License Points (ncdot.gov)
How a Speeding Ticket Impacts Your Insurance in North Carolina | Bankrate
Image Credit:
Cars speeding through tunnel Free Stock Photo | FreeImages
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
Arnold & Smith, PLLC – YouTube
See Our Related Blog Posts: