North Carolina laws aim to keep the roads safe by setting specific standards for drivers. These include a variety of requirements, such as obeying traffic signs and signals and following posted speed limits.
Failing to follow the laws set for driving can lead to traffic tickets and more serious criminal charges.
Suspension versus revocation
A driver’s license suspension is temporary and can be lifted if the terms required are met. A revocation requires a hearing with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to reinstate driving privileges if it’s possible at all.
License suspension occurs if a driver receives 12 points or more within three years or if they receive eight points within three years of a license reinstatement. In most cases, the length of the suspension is based on how many suspensions a person has had previously.
- First suspension: 60 days
- Second suspension: Six months
- Third suspension: One year
Keeping track of points may help drivers know how specific tickets impact their ability to drive.
Special circumstances
Certain offenses, such as impaired driving come with longer suspensions. For example, a first offense is a one-year suspension, while a third is a permanent revocation.
Speeding is another special circumstance. Convictions of tickets for driving more than 15 miles per hour (mph) over the posted limit while moving at 55 mph or moving at more than 80 mph can lead to a suspension.
While it might seem like paying a traffic ticket is the easiest and best solution, that might not be the case. Paying tickets can result in a driver racking up points on their driver’s license, which may result in a revocation or suspension of driving privileges. Insurance rates may increase, and some people who must have a clean driving record for work might not be able to continue working.
Fighting traffic tickets may require more work upfront, but the result could be worthwhile. Motorists should work with a legal representative who can explain their options and help them present their case as effectively as possible.