Stop Sign Ticket Attorney in Raleigh

Know the Points & Costs Before Paying a North Carolina Citation

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-158, drivers generally must come to a complete stop before entering a marked crosswalk, crossing a stop line, or entering the intersection. A citation for running a stop sign or red light is generally an infraction, but simply paying it can result in a conviction on your driving record.

A red light or stop sign ticket can carry a fine of up to $100, plus court costs that vary by county and how the case is resolved. A conviction typically adds three points to your North Carolina DMV record and three insurance points under the Safe Driver Incentive Plan. Insurance points can affect your premiums, depending on your record and other applicable factors.

How Stop Sign Ticket Points Compare with Other North Carolina Violations

The three DMV points assessed for a stop sign or red light conviction are the same number assigned to failure to yield the right-of-way. Other moving violations carry more points, so consider your complete driving history before deciding how to address a citation.

Common North Carolina point assessments include:

• Three points: Running a stop sign, running a red light, or failing to yield the right-of-way.
• Four points: Reckless driving, following too closely, driving on the wrong side of the road, illegal passing, or property-damage hit and run.
• Five points: Passing a stopped school bus or aggressive driving.

Depending on the circumstances, an officer may charge one of these violations alongside reckless driving. Because reckless driving carries four DMV points and is a separate charge, we review every offense listed on the citation rather than treating the matter as a routine three-point ticket.

When DMV Points Can Suspend a North Carolina License

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles may suspend a driver’s license after the driver accumulates 12 points within a three-year period. A first point-based suspension lasts 60 days. A second lasts six months, while a third or subsequent point-based suspension lasts one year.

After reinstatement, the points that led to the suspension are canceled. However, accumulating eight points during the following three years can lead to another suspension. We consider where a new conviction would leave you under these thresholds when evaluating your defense options.

Don’t Fight a Ticket Alone

If you have been ticketed for running a stop sign or stop light, our attorney at Cotten Law Firm, PLLC, serving drivers throughout North Carolina, can review the circumstances and identify potential defenses, including:

• The officer didn’t have a clear view of your vehicle. Without a clear view, the officer may not have been able to determine reliably whether you stopped.
• There was an emergency. If you ran a stop sign or stop light while responding to an emergency or avoiding an accident or pedestrian, you may be able to use this as a defense.
• The stop sign or stop light was obstructed. If the sign or signal was obstructed, you may not have been able to see it clearly.
• You were confused about the traffic laws. If you were confused about the applicable law, you may not have realized that you were running a stop sign or stop light.

We compare your account with the citation and relevant evidence to determine which arguments fit the facts.

If you have been cited for running a stop sign or stop light, our North Carolina traffic ticket lawyer can explain your rights, discuss your options, and represent you in court.

What We Review Before Addressing Your Citation

We start by learning what happened from your perspective and examining the available evidence. Jeremy Cotten has handled more than 100,000 traffic and criminal cases, and that experience informs how we assess the citation, your history, and the possible resolutions available in court.

Our North Carolina stop sign ticket attorney can help you challenge a citation and discuss whether a reduction to a nonmoving violation or dismissal may be appropriate. No particular resolution is automatic. The available approach depends on the citation, the evidence, your record, and the requirements of the court handling the matter.

Court Appearance & Traffic Signal Rules in North Carolina

Many stop sign and red light tickets are waivable offenses in North Carolina. A waivable offense may be resolved without the driver personally appearing in court, including some matters handled through an attorney. Whether you must appear depends on the citation, court requirements, and available resolution, so we confirm that requirement during our review.

A right turn on red is generally permitted only after a complete stop unless a posted sign prohibits the turn. Left turns on red are illegal throughout North Carolina. We examine the movement described on the citation and the traffic control at the intersection instead of assuming every red light allegation involves the same facts.