If you were spotted speeding, rolling through a stop sign or driving down the wrong lane, you know that a traffic ticket is virtually inevitable. While you may be tempted to just accept the officer’s verdict on your actions (even if you disagree) and pay the fine, you need to consider what happens next carefully. A ticket is more than just a minor inconvenience.
To understand how a traffic ticket can actually affect you, you should read the following:
North Carolina’s traffic violation points
Among other things, each traffic violation can lead to points on your driver’s license. Not all traffic violations lead to the same number of points, however.
For example, speeding through a safety zone can lead to 3 points. Driving on the wrong side of the road can lead to 4 points. And, passing a stopped school bus while loading or unloading children can lead to 5 points on your license. If you accumulate 12 points on your license, your license could be suspended.
Insurance premium increase
Getting a traffic ticket in North Carolina will most likely increase your insurance premium under the Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP). A traffic violation can add points to the SDIP insurance point system.
Just one point for a traffic violation can increase your insurance premium by 40%. However, certain traffic violations can increase the number of points on your insurance record. For example, you may receive 2 points for driving on the wrong side of the road, which can increase your premium by 55%.
Fines and court fees
You may have to pay a fine for a traffic violation. However, you may be expected to pay court fees alongside your traffic violation fine. For some traffic violations, you may be expected to pay twice as much.
Before paying your traffic ticket, you may need to learn about your legal rights and reach out for legal guidance. It may be possible to successfully challenge the ticket, and the benefits are certainly worth it.