How Can I Get Out Of A Traffic Ticket?
Important Facts: It is rarely in your best interest to plead guilty as charged or, to simply pay off the ticket. Traffic tickets can increase your insurance costs drastically. One insurance point is a 25% increase, two points a 45% increase, and three points a 65% increase. Look at the chart below to see how high your insurance rate could go.
Insurance Points Will Cost You Money! Over time increased insurance costs can far exceed the cost of a fine.
Out of State Residents
YOUR NORTH CAROLINA TICKET MAY FOLLOW YOU HOME!
THE NON-RESIDENT VIOLATOR COMPACT
Just because you are a resident of another state, do not make the mistake of thinking that the North Carolina ticket will not follow you when you leave. North Carolina and most other states and parts of Canada have joined together under the Non-Resident Violator Compact. A suspended license or a ticket in one state is reflected as a ticket or loss of license in every other state.
Also, if you ignore a ticket in North Carolina, you will likely later find yourself unable to obtain a license in another state, or even renew your license, until you have resolved the ticket here and had your driving privileges in North Carolina restored. Most states also exchange information under the National Driver License Compact to prevent drivers from receiving multiple tickets in different states without triggering enforcement action.
North Carolina is a member of the Nonresident Violator Compact and a license suspension or serious ticket in any member state equals a ticket or loss of license in ALL 44 member states. Nonmembers as of January 1996 are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, and Wisconsin. If your license is suspended in North Carolina, you cannot obtain a license in any of the member states until your privilege to drive in North Carolina is restored.
The North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP)
The North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) was enacted by the General Assembly to reward safe drivers with the lowest possible insurance costs. Drivers who are convicted of moving traffic violations and/or cause accidents will be charged higher premiums in accordance with their driving records.
SDIP points are charged as follows for convictions and at-fault accidents occurring during the Experience Period (The three years immediately preceding the date of application of the preparation of the renewal):
1 Point:
All Other Moving Violations or At-Fault Accidents Resulting in Property Damage of $1500 or less and bodily injury of $500 or less
2 Points:
- Illegal Passing
- Speeding in Excess of 55 mph But less than 76 mph
- Driving on Wrong Side of Road
- At-Fault Accident Resulting in Property Damage in Excess of $1,500, but less than $2,500
3 Points:
- At-Fault Accident Resulting in Bodily Injury over $500 or Death
- Property Damage of $2,500 or More
4 Points:
- Reckless Driving
- Hit-and-Run, Property Damage Only
- Passing a Stopped School Bus
- Speeding in Excess of 75 mph or 80 mph in a 70 mph zone
- Driving after consuming alcohol, driver under 21
8 Points:
Driving During Revocation or Suspension of License or Registration
10 Points:
- Highway Racing or Lending a Car for Highway Racing
- Speeding to elude arrest
12 Points:
- Manslaughter or Negligent Homicide
- Prearranged Highway Racing or Lending a Car for Prearranged Highway Racing
- Hit-and-Run, Bodily Injury or Death
- Driving Under the Influence
- Driving with a Blood-Alcohol Level Greater than .08%
- Driving While Impaired
- Transporting Illegal Intoxicating Liquor for Sale
