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Traffic Lawyers in Charlotte and Monroe NC - Traffic Tickets, Traffic Citations and Traffic Law Attorneys

Insurance Policy It’s OK. Everyone at one time or another has been guilty of speeding and maybe even running a red light or stop sign.

Clearly, you’re not public enemy #1 after a traffic ticket. At the same time, you might not fully understand some of the potentially harsh consequences if convicted of certain offenses.

Minor infractions (traffic tickets) can lead to big-time insurance headaches, especially if you have a bad driving record and/or if NCDMV suspended your license due to points or DWI in NC.

We offer legal advice based on years of experience, compassion, and hard work, helping people with traffic tickets in Charlotte - Mecklenburg County and Monroe, in Union County, North Carolina. If you Googled Traffic Ticket Lawyers Near Me or Traffic Lawyer Near Me, we help people in: Pineville.

We’re more than willing to explain things like insurance points vs motor vehicle points, how a driving history can affect your license, and the implications of at fault accidents, relative to traffic tickets and the Safe Driver Incentive Plan.

Should I Plead Guilty?

Before doing anything, we think it’s smart to talk to a lawyer. In North Carolina, if you pay off a citation, that is the same thing as pleading guilty, even if you don’t go to court.

Paying a ticket is an admission or responsibility and/or guilty, as the case may be. In NC, infractions involve an “admission or responsibility.” Criminal charges, designated as “CR” within the case number of the ticket, involves innocence or guilty.

Some traffic tickets in North Carolina are criminal violations. That means they are considered a misdemeanor. But that is not true for all tickets.

It can get pretty complicated. That’s why it makes sense to talk to a lawyer. The good news is the initial consultation is free of charge.

Many speeding ticket law firms and traffic lawyers offer a free consultation.

It doesn’t cost anything to call us, ask questions, and see what we can do to help.

That’s what “free consultation” means.

We will consult with you about your ticket in Mecklenburg County or Union County, North Carolina and provide background information about how traffic court works and what you might expect.

“There are some tickets where, after a full discussion of legal options, we tell people they can and should handle the ticket themselves. On the other hand, there are also times when having a lawyer on your side in court is a really good idea.”

– Bill Powers, Traffic Ticket Lawyer

That may come as a surprise to you.

Frankly, traffic tickets can get real complicated, real fast.

We think it’s REALLY IMPORTANT for you to understand and appreciate the differences between insurance points and motor vehicle points.

Insurance points affect your wallet, your insurance premiums. Motor vehicle points are assessed by the NC DMV. If you get too many DMV points, that can be a problem.

Why a PJC May or May Not Be Helpful

Some people think to themselves, “I’ll just get a PJC.” That’s not always an option and/or a great idea.

A lot depends on the type of ticket, your prior driving history (DMV record), the type of license you have, and where you are licensed.

Here are some basics about a PJC in North Carolina:

  • PJC stands for Prayer for Judgment Continued
  • A Prayer for Judgment Continued or “Continued Judgment” is not available and/or appropriate in every circumstance
  • A PJC is not allowed for Driving While Impaired charges in NC
  • A PJC is not allowed for speeding tickets that are more than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit
  • A PJC is not allowed for Passing Stopped School Bus charges
  • You are not entitled to or guaranteed a PJC even with a clean record
  • A PJC does not result in dismissal of charges
  • A PJC is not considered a “final judgment.” As such, there is no right to appeal a District Court PJC to Superior Court for a trial de novo jury trial
  • CDL Drivers - Commercial Drivers License holders are not eligible for a PJC
How Does Traffic Court Work in Charlotte?

Traffic The two biggest court systems in North Carolina are in Mecklenburg County and Wake County. Traffic tickets that take place in and issued in the Charlotte-Metro region are normally first assigned to Courtroom 1130.

Courtroom 1130 is what criminal lawyers call “Admin Court” or administrative court.

There aren’t trials in admin court.

Police officers don’t appear for the administrative setting, so you shouldn’t plan on having your charges dismissed because the police officer didn’t show up.

You can appear on your own behalf in Courtroom 1130. That’s called pro se legal representation. That basically means you represent yourself without the assistance of an attorney.

Many traffic tickets do not allow for the appointment of legal counsel (public defender). That means you don’t always have the right to an attorney paid for by the State (appointed legal counsel or public defender) for certain traffic tickets.

You should not assume the charges will be dismissed because you have a clean record. If you plan on going to traffic court in Charlotte, be prepared to wait.

Courtroom 1130 can get incredibly busy, with sometimes hundreds and even thousands of different matters being set for disposition.

If you have legal questions about how your traffic ticket may affect your insurance or points issued by NCDMV, the prosecutor (the ADA / the “State”) cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice.

BTW, that’s also true for judges.

We firmly believe that just because you have been cited for a traffic violation does not mean you should plead guilty to a traffic ticket. We understand that violations can happen and we all make mistakes, but tickets can carry consequences and therefore should not be taken lightly.

How Does Traffic Court Work in Union County NC?

Much like in Mecklenburg County, traffic tickets in Monroe are often handled in an administrative court setting.

There are not trials in administrative court. As such, the police officer who wrote the ticket may not be required to show up for that first setting.

Contrary to what some might think, if you appear in administrative traffic court in Union County NC and don’t see the police officer, that doesn’t mean your case will be “automatically dismissed.”

The State, through an Assistant District Attorney assigned to traffic court, may negotiate matters.

You are not required to hire a lawyer to handle your ticket in Union County, North Caorlina, but we think it helps. Traffic court in Monroe is normally pretty busy and can result in an expended period of time waiting to speak with the prosecutor and/or the Court, as may be appropriate.

NCDMV Legal Issues: Time to Lawyer Up

If you’re facing the possibility of a license revocation in North Carolina or license suspension (criminal lawyers tend to use those terms interchangeably), we firmly believe it’s time to seek legal counsel.

DMV issues in NC are often complicated and timing can be key.

For example, the failure to request a revocation hearing or properly challenge a license restoration in a timely fashion may result in the waiver of your right for administrative relief.

In fact, there are strict guidelines regarding whether you’re entitled to a restoration hearing and/or license suspension review.

If you have questions about whether a traffic ticket or other criminal case can affect your ability to drive in North Carolina, you should seek the advice of an experienced traffic ticket attorney immediately.

We’re Here to Help!

The attorneys at Powers Law Firm are happy to help you understand the implications traffic tickets in Monroe NC and Charlotte (Mecklenburg County). We also handle several types of DMV related issues such as:

These situations often arise when a client doesn’t understand the restrictions that may be placed on their license as a result of a previous criminal case or traffic violation.

At Powers Law Firm we will make sure you understand the terms of your license restriction or suspension, working to avoid further problems with your license, if that’s possible under the NC criminal laws.

When we handle traffic violation cases we understand that your ability to drive may be in jeopardy.

We know that getting to work, taking your children to school, and generally getting around can be extremely difficult without the ability to drive.

Call NOW: 704-342-4357 to discuss the specifics of your case and to see what the traffic ticket lawyers at Powers Law Firm can do for you.

Helpful Information About Traffic Tickets in Charlotte NC
Client Reviews
★★★★★
I am so fortunate to have had Bill Powers on my case. Upon our first meeting, Bill insisted that through the emotions of anger, sadness, confusion, and betrayal that I remain resilient. He was available to answer questions with researched, logical, truthful answers throughout our two year stretch together... J.R.
★★★★★
Bill Powers and his firm were a true blessing. If anyone is contacting an attorney, it's more than likely not from a positive life experience. If there was a rating for "bedside manner" for lawyers he'd get a 10/10 for that as well. The entire staff were helpful... K.C.
★★★★★
Bill Powers’ staff has handled several traffic citations for me over the years, and they exceeded my expectations each and every time. Would highly recommend anyone faced with a traffic citation or court case contact his office and they will handle it from there. M.C.
★★★★★
Bill and his staff are flat out great. I (unfortunately) was a repeat customer after a string of tickets. These guys not only took care of the initial ticket for me, but went the extra mile and reduced my problems from 3 to just 1 (very minor one) on the same day I called back! I would recommend them to anyone. A.R.