Getting a traffic ticket is disruptive and potentially embarrassing. No one wants to show up late to work or an appointment meeting because of a traffic stop. Most drivers who receive citations immediately pay them.
Motorists in North Carolina may not realize the consequences of paying a traffic ticket. What are the main problems associated with paying a ticket instead of fighting it?
1. Paying means pleading guilty
A traffic ticket is essentially a formal accusation of misconduct against a driver. Motorists can respond to their tickets by fighting them in court.
If they choose to pay the citation, that is the equivalent of entering a guilty plea. The state and any other party that checks the driver’s record can assume that the motorist was guilty of a traffic infraction.
2. Licensing penalties
Too many tickets in a short amount of time can put a driver’s license at risk. Paying a ticket can have significant repercussions, especially for those who drive for work. Commercial licensing can be at risk even for a ticket issued while a driver was not on the clock.
3. The cost of driving may increase
Insurance companies look at a driver’s record when calculating premiums for the upcoming year. Even a single ticket can increase premiums by a noticeable amount. Repeat tickets and tickets for especially serious traffic violations can have major implications for a motorist’s insurance costs.
Working with an attorney to fight a ticket is often the more cost-effective solution. Drivers who successfully fight their tickets avoid not just fines but also licensing consequences, career setbacks and increased insurance premiums.