Johnston County Traffic Ticket Attorney

Table of Contents:

• Heading to the Johnston County Courthouse?
• Johnston County Speed Traps & High-Traffic Enforcement Zones
• The I-95 & I-40 Corridor (The “Beach Route”)
• US-70 & NC Highway 42 (Clayton & Cleveland Areas)
• Common Johnston County Traffic Violations We Handle:
• How Do You Fight A Traffic Ticket In North Carolina?
• What’s The North Carolina Driver’s License Point System?
• How Can A Traffic Ticket Effect My Insurance Rates?
• Can A Lawyer Help Challenge My Traffic Ticket?
• Resources

Heading to the Johnston County Courthouse?

If you’ve been cited for a speeding ticket or a DWI in Johnston County, your case will likely be heard at the courthouse in Smithfield. Being prepared can save you hours of frustration.

The Traffic Court Entrance: While the courthouse spans a full city block, the specific address for the District Court and the Clerk of Superior Court is 207 E. Johnston St., Smithfield, NC 27577.

The “Pro” Parking Tip: Parking directly in front of the Johnston Street entrance is limited. Your best bet is the free public parking lot located directly across from the courthouse on Second Street, or the additional public spaces on Market Street.

Security & Arrival: Court typically begins at 9:00 AM. Because you must pass through a security checkpoint at the 207 E. Johnston St. entrance, we recommend arriving by 8:30 AM to account for the morning line.

Can’t Make It to Smithfield? We understand that a ticket in Smithfield is a major disruption, especially if you live in Raleigh or out of state. In many traffic cases, Jeremy Cotten can appear on your behalf with a Waiver of Appearance. Contact our office to learn about your specific options.

Johnston County Speed Traps & High-Traffic Enforcement Zones

Johnston County is a major crossroads for North Carolina. With several major interstates and highways intersecting in Smithfield, Selma, and Benson, the local Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s Office are extremely active. We frequently help clients who have been cited in these specific areas:

The I-95 & I-40 Corridor (The “Beach Route”)

Are you an out-of-state driver or just heading to the coast for the weekend? It is incredibly common to get clocked on I-95 near Benson or at the high-speed I-40/I-95 split.

How we help: If you were passing through and live hours away, the last thing you want to do is drive back to Smithfield for a 9:00 AM court date. In most cases, we can appear on your behalf, so you never have to step foot in the Johnston County Courthouse.

US-70 & NC Highway 42 (Clayton & Cleveland Areas)

Whether it’s the morning commute on NC-42 or the heavy flow of traffic through Clayton on US-70, these stretches are notorious for speed traps. We also see a high volume of “Failure to Move Over” citations in these zones.

Local Knowledge: We understand how the Johnston County District Attorney’s office views these specific corridors. We work to negotiate your ticket down to “Improper Equipment” or a non-moving violation to protect your insurance rates and your license.

Common Johnston County Traffic Violations We Handle:

Speeding in a School Zone (especially near Clayton and Cleveland schools)

Work Zone Violations on I-40 construction stretches

Reckless Driving (often charged automatically for speeds over 80 MPH or 15 MPH over the limit)

Following Too Closely on the I-95 corridor

How Do You Fight A Traffic Ticket In North Carolina?

If you got a traffic ticket, you’ll notice that you have various options for paying the fine. For instance, you can pay in person, mail payment or pay online. However, these methods for resolving your citation results in a conviction for the offense. When you pay the fine, you are essentially admitting guilt and accepting the penalties that come with the violation.

You have the right to challenge your ticket. By doing so, you are saying that you contest the allegations. You may be able to pursue a more optimal result that could enable you to minimize or avoid penalties.

Several avenues are available for fighting your speeding or other traffic violation ticket. You can submit a request to the District Attorney’s office to argue for a reduction in charge or a dismissal of your case.

Although many traffic tickets are resolved outside of trial, you also can take your matter to court, where you will present your arguments before a judge. During the proceeding, you must be sure to follow the rules of evidence and court processes.

Whatever path your case may take, speaking to our Johnston County traffic ticket lawyer before moving forward can be beneficial. We’ll help you understand what it means to simply pay the fine and the potential consequences. A skilled negotiator and litigator, our attorney can develop a compelling defense for you and present your case in or out of court.

We defend against:

• Speeding tickets (G.S. 20-141)
  • Learn more about fighting speeding tickets in Johnston County
• Reckless driving
• Failure to use seat belt tickets (G.S. 20-135.2A)
• Failure to yield right of way tickets (G.S. 20-155)
• Racing tickets (G.S. 20-141.3)
• Aggressive driving tickets (G.S. 20-141.6)
• Passing a stopped school bus tickets (G.S. 20-217)
• DUI/DWI defense

When you turn to us, we will fully investigate the situation. From there, we can determine a method for fighting your ticket.

Possible ways for resolving these cases include, but are not limited to:

• Speed reduction
• Improper equipment reduction
• Prayer for judgment (PJC)
• Dismissal

What’s The North Carolina Driver’s License Point System?

A speeding ticket or citation for other traffic violations can result in a 60-day driver’s license suspension. This can happen when you accumulate 12 points on your driving record within 3 years. Getting additional points after your driver’s license has been reinstated can result in a 6-month suspension and a 12-month suspension if points accumulation happens a third time.

Under North Carolina’s driver’s license point system, you can get points on your record by pleading (e.g., paying the fine for a ticket) or being found guilty of a traffic offense. Different violations have different values attached to them.

For instance, you can get:

• 5 points for passing a school bus,
• 4 points for following too closely,
• 3 points for running a stop sign, and
• 2 points for various other moving violations.

Cotten Law Firm, PLLC, is here to help protect your driver’s license.

How Can A Traffic Ticket Effect My Insurance Rates?

Points assessed for a traffic violation conviction impact not only your driver’s license but also your insurance premium. The value of an offense is determined by its seriousness. More severe ones are worth more, leading to a significant spike in insurance rates.

Below are examples of points for different tickets and the corresponding rate percentage increase:

• Speeding at 10 mph or less when the speed limit is under 55 mph
  • 1 point
  • 30% increase
• Illegal passing
  • 2 points
  • 45% increase
• Reckless driving
  • 4 points
  • 80% increase
• Driving during revocation or suspension
  • 8 points
  • 195% increase
• Racing
  • 10 points
  • 260% increase
• Driving while impaired
  • 12 points
  • 340% increase

Turn to our traffic ticket attorney in Johnston County to learn how we can work to protect your insurance premium.

Can A Lawyer Help Challenge My Traffic Ticket?

You have the right to be represented by an attorney throughout your case. At Cotten Law Firm, PLLC, we can negotiate with the prosecutor or make your case in court. We can even appear on your behalf, preventing you from having to take time out of your busy schedule.

We serve residents of:

• Smithfield
• Clayton
• Benson
• Selma
• Four Oaks
• Princeton
• Archer Lodge
• Pine Level
• Wilsons Mills
• Micro
• Other communities in Johnston County

For high-quality service at a reasonable rate, please reach out to us at (984) 253-4337.

Resources

Johnston County Courthouse Information

207 E Johnston St.

Smithfield, NC 27577

(984) 253-4337

Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm