Raleigh Traffic Violation Law and Penalties

How are Traffic Violations Handled Differently by the Courts?

Going to court for traffic violation charges is a stressful and intimidating experience.   Traffic violations are handled differently from state to state, but in North Carolina these cases go to the county traffic court.  The court treats cases according to their severity, taking into consideration whether they involve minor infractions or misdemeanors.

Civil Infractions in Traffic Court

A civil infraction is a minor charge, such as a first-time parking offense or a speeding ticket.  The court usually handles an infraction in the following manner:

• You may either plead guilty and pay the ticket by mail, or schedule a court date.

• If a prosecutor is present in court, he or she will go over your driving record and possibly offer you a deal, providing you plead guilty to a specific traffic violation.  For example, if you have been given two tickets, the prosecutor might offer to dismiss one ticket if you plead guilty to the other. 

• If the prosecutor offers “dismissal on costs,” you will not get any points on your record after you pay a fine, and the ticket might even get dismissed, providing you don’t get any more tickets within a certain period of time.

Traffic Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor, such as drunk driving, is a serious criminal offense.  You may expect the following steps to be taken during the court process:

• The first court hearing is called an arraignment.  At the arraignment, you make your plea after your charges are read to you.  It is never advisable to plead guilty as charged, because after doing so it will be difficult for an attorney to reduce the charge or lower the penalties.

• After you plead not guilty, a pretrial is held with a prosecutor.  If the prosecutor offers a good deal, you might want to accept it so that there is no possibility you will be convicted as a criminal.

If you have been accused of breaking Raleigh traffic violation law, it is crucial to speak with a qualified attorney, especially if you are facing charges of misdemeanor.  The renowned attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert J. Willis are knowledgeable of Raleigh traffic violation penalties.  We will help you to anticipate what kinds of offers the prosecutor will make, and to determine which ones are in your best interest to accept.  Contact us today for an initial consultation.