Our Firm focuses on representing clients who have been cited for all types of Traffic Violations in Shelby, Kings Mountain and surrounding areas in Cleveland County, North Carolina. We specifically represent multiple clients in court every week who have received speeding tickets in Cleveland County. Our goal is to get your speeding ticket reduced so that you will be shielded from the negative effects your ticket could have on both your driver's license and auto insurance.
What are my options for handling my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
When you receive a speeding ticket in Cleveland County, North Carolina, you will likely have a few different options for getting your ticket reduced. Depending upon how many miles per hour over the speed limit you were ticketed for, you may be able to have your ticket reduced to a lower speed or even have the ticket reduced to a non-moving violation, called Improper Equipment. Another option that may be available to you is for the court to grant you a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) on your speeding ticket.
By having your speeding ticket reduced to a lower speed, getting it reduced to an Improper Equipment violation, or obtaining a Prayer for Judgment Continued, you can effectively prevent your speeding ticket from having any effect on your insurance and also protect against driver's license points and suspensions. In order to qualify for a reduction to Improper Equipment in Cleveland County, you must have no Improper Equipment violations on your driving record within the 3 year period leading up to your speeding ticket charge and must have not been cited for traveling in excess of 25 miles per hour over the speed limit. Ultimately, if you qualify for your speeding ticket to be reduced to an Improper Equipment Violation, this is the best avenue to take, as the violation will not show up as a speeding ticket on your driving record and will put no points on either your driver's license or insurance. (See Improper Equipment Cleveland County for more information).
Should you not qualify to have your speeding ticket reduced to Improper Equipment or just wish to consider other options, you will most likely have the option to have your speeding ticket reduced to a lower speed. Depending upon the speed you were cited for, you will most likely be offered a reduction that, although will put a few points on your license, may prevent your insurance rates from increasing and your license from being suspended. The exact effect of having your speeding ticket reduced to a lower speed will depend upon a number of factors that our attorneys will be happy to consider and discuss with you based upon your individual situation.
The final option for handling your speeding ticket in Cleveland County is for the court to grant you a Prayer for Judgment Continued, or commonly referred to as PJC. This option will only be effective if you have a North Carolina driver's license. In order to qualify for a PJC on a speeding ticket, you must not be ticketed for traveling in excess of 25 miles per hour over the speed limit and must not have received more than one other PJC within 5 years of the date you were charged with the current offense. Ultimately, it is in the judge's discretion whether or not to grant the PJC. In the event that you are granted a Prayer for Judgment Continued by the court, this outcome will prevent any points from being placed on your North Carolina drivers' license and will also protect from an increase in your insurance premiums so long as your nor anyone on your insurance policy has obtained a Prayer for Judgment (PJC) on a traffic violation within the past 3 years.
Should I pay off my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
While it may appear the cheapest and simplest way to resolve your speeding ticket, you should not simply pay off your speeding ticket in Cleveland County for several reasons. First, if you simply pay off the ticket, you are acknowledging that you are actually guilty of the charges made by the officer, which may not be accurate. Second, in accepting guilt, you will accrue points on both your driver's license and your auto insurance. Points on your license will add up for a three-year period, which could lead to a suspension of your license. Accrued points on your auto insurance policy can cause your insurance premiums to increase substantially for several years following the offense. Therefore, it is wise to pay a little more money up front to retain an attorney to get the charges reduced so you will not be stuck with skyrocketing insurance premiums for the next several years. Our attorneys will work with the local District Attorney's office to get your charges reduced as low as possible to save you money in the long run.
Am I required to come to court for my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
In most cases where you are charged with speeding, if you hire an attorney, you would not be required to be present in court. There are many waivable offenses which generally include speeding tickets under 80 miles per hour and other minor moving violations in which your presence cannot be required in court if you have an attorney present on your behalf at court. However, even if you are charged with a higher speed or more serious traffic offense, the court may allow us to handle your case without you being present if you reside a distance away from our courthouse in Shelby, North Carolina. Our attorneys will gladly help you determine whether or not you must appear in court.
How will my speeding ticket affect my out-of-state license?
Different states handle speeding tickets in different ways, so it is a good idea to contact an attorney in your home state to determine how its laws will impact your particular situation. In the event that you retain our firm, we will be happy to look into this with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state where you are licensed in order to determine what is the best disposition in your case.
Do I need an attorney to handle my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
While it is not mandatory to hire an attorney to handle your speeding ticket in Cleveland County, it is definitely recommended that you hire an experienced attorney who can help you get your traffic charges reduced so they will not cause you to accrue additional points on your license or insurance. Because points on your license add up over a three-year period, you could end up having your license suspended or revoked if you are not careful. Our attorneys are able to get many simple traffic charges reduced to Improper Equipment, which is a non-moving violation that will not add points to your license or insurance.
In addition to accruing points on your license, you will likely incur substantial increases in your auto insurance rates if you simply pay off your traffic ticket. Our experienced Cleveland County traffic lawyers are dedicated to getting your traffic charges reduced so they will have minimal to no effect on your insurance rates. It is therefore prudent to pay an attorney up front to handle your ticket so you will not be stuck with outrageous insurance premiums for years.
Can I get a continuance on my court date for my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
Yes, we will gladly help retained clients get one continuance for speeding tickets in Cleveland County to obtain additional time for the completion of driving courses or to grant additional time to be able to pay the costs of court.
What should I do if I missed my court date for my speeding ticket in Cleveland County?
If you missed your court date in Shelby, North Carolina for your speeding ticket or traffic citation, the court will attach a failure to appear (FTA) to your case after 20 days. Along with this FTA, you will be assessed an additional fine of $200 and the court will send notice of the failure to appear to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). If you fail to address the case with the court following the entry of the FTA, the NCDMV will suspend your drivers license. Therefore, it is very important to hire an experienced Cleveland County Traffic Lawyer to expeditiously resolve your case with the court. Our attorneys can assist you with resolving your case immediately so that any suspension on your license can be prevented or quickly removed and the FTA can likely be stricken so that you will not be responsible the additional $200 fine.
Free Phone or Email Consultation!
In order to best serve you, our Cleveland County Traffic Attorneys would like to offer you a phone call or e-mail assessment of your case. Please do not hesitate to contact us at our Shelby office at (704) 470-2440 or [email protected] to discuss your case and learn what to expect. We are here to serve you and we believe that you will find our fees to be very reasonable. We have flexible payment options as well and accept all major credit cards. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you to help you acquire the best disposition possible for your case.