I'm guilty of the traffic violation; shouldn't I just pay it off? NO! Not without consulting with a lawyer. In almost every case, just paying off a ticket is the worst thing you can do.
Why should I hire a lawyer?Often times a lawyer will be able to appear in court on your behalf. Meaning you might not have to use valuable vacation or personal time to be away from work. If you are a student, you probably won't have to miss class if you hire a lawyer. Also, a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer will know the North Carolina traffic and insurance laws. This knowledge will help your lawyer to negotiate with the State in an effort to secure the best possible resolution for your speeding ticket or traffic ticket.
Aren't lawyers expensive?Court costs, fines and insurance increases (especially when multiplied over several years) typically will be far more expensive than the legal fees associated with retaining a lawyer to represent you for your speeding ticket or traffic ticket. For example, here is a chart of typical insurance rate increases which can result from various traffic violations:
| Offense | INS Points | % Increase |
| Prearranged racing | 12 | 400% |
| Hit & Run (bodily inj.) | 12 | 400% |
| DWI | 12 | 400% |
| Highway racing | 10 | 300% |
| DWLR (Driving While License Revoked) | 8 | 220% |
| Hit & Run (prop. dam.) | 4 | 90% |
| Reckless Driving | 4 | 90% |
| Exceeding 75 mph | 4 | 90% |
| Passing stopped school bus | 4 | 90% |
| Speeding over 55 mph but under 75 mph | 2 | 45% |
| Illegal passing | 2 | 45% |
| Following too close | 2 | 45% |
| Driving left of center | 2 | 45% |
| All other moving Violations | 1 | 25% |
For starters, you probably won't have to come to court yourself. On top of that, a knowledgeable and experienced traffic ticket lawyer can help manage your driving record in order to minimize driver's license points, insurance points, and insurance rate increases.
How can my lawyer help me out?Often times your lawyer will be able to secure a dismissal of your citation all together. If this is the case, you will receive no North Carolina driver's license points, insurance points, or insurance rate increases. Other times, your lawyer will be able to negotiate with the State, through the District Attorney, for a reduction - meaning that you will plea guilty to a charge which will have less impact on your driver's license points, insurance points, and/or insurance rates. Your lawyer may also manage your speeding ticket or traffic ticket through strategic use of the North Carolina Insurance Waiver, a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) and/or driving school. In short, every case and every client is different. It is smart to retain a knowledgeable and experienced traffic ticket lawyer to help you through the legal process.
I am licensed in a state other than North Carolina, do I have to worry about a ticket I received in North Carolina?Probably. It used to be that it was something of a crap shoot whether an out of state traffic conviction would be reported back to your home state. Now, most states are linked together on the State Reporting System and an out of state conviction could have the same impact on your license as it would if you received it at home.
I have a bunch of unresolved traffic citations, it's hopeless isn't it?NO! Arnold & Smith, PLLC is experienced in working through complex cases. Often times these "license reconstruction projects" are successful and they can save the driver lots of money!
Why should I hire Arnold & Smith, PLLC?Attorney J. Bradley Smith, of Arnold & Smith, PLLC, is a former Mecklenburg County District Attorney. As a prosecutor and a defense lawyer, Mr. Smith has handled thousands of speeding tickets and traffic tickets in Mecklenburg County. Mr. Smith only handles speeding tickets in Mecklenburg County and he knows his way around the courthouse.
I have a suspended license, is there anything that Arnold & Smith, PLLC can do for me?Yes, in many cases it is possible to restore a license before the suspension is over on a conditional basis. Every case is different and you should consult with a lawyer to find out more information.
So now what?Just click below or call 704.370.2828 for a free consultation and let us take care of the rest. Make sure you have Arnold and Smith, PLLC on your side for your traffic matter.