Did you know that speeding is one of the leading causes of road accidents worldwide? According to statistics, speeding has caused about 1/3 of all road fatalities. In 2020 alone, speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities.
With such consequences, the law is stringent in penalizing speeding drivers. In fact, speeding tickets are among the most common types of traffic tickets written in North Carolina and other states across the country.
Whether you intentionally drove faster to reach your meeting on time or didn’t notice going beyond the speed limit until you saw a police car with flashing lights in your rearview mirror, getting a speeding ticket can tarnish your driving record. It can also cause financial pain in the form of higher insurance premiums.
If you ever receive a speeding ticket, here are ways to help remove this blot from your traffic record.
Use The Prayer For Judgment
If you live in North Carolina, there’s a unique legal system known as Prayer For Judgement. It allows you to plead guilty and ask for the Prayer for Judgment (PJC). If granted, it can help you prevent license points from being added to your record.
While this may sound like a convenient way to avoid conviction and fines or suspension of your license, it’s not always automatic or guaranteed. After pleading guilty to the traffic case, the judge will use a lot of discretion and can vary widely in granting the petition. Moreover, Prayer For Judgment can only be issued to an individual twice every five years.
Opt For A Deferral
With a deferral, whether you plead guilty to the traffic case or the court finds you accountable, the violation won’t be added to your record for a specific duration, which will depend on where you are. But in most states, it’s one year. Generally, deferrals are approved by the judge or a district attorney and require a fee.
Within the given period, if you get involved in another traffic violation and receive another ticket, both offenses will go on your driving record, which can significantly increase your insurance rates. On the other hand, if you get through it without getting a traffic case, your violation will be dismissed.
Enroll On A Defense Driving Class
In most cases, taking a traffic class can help resolve a speeding ticket. Instead of getting a speeding citation on your record, you can complete a traffic course that brushes you up on safe driving tips. Depending on your situation, taking a driving class can be a part of a plea agreement or help reduce points.
However, take note that not all states provide these courses. Also, most states offer it as a one-time solution for dismissing speeding tickets. So, if you receive another speeding ticket after taking a driving course, this option won’t be available anymore.
Time commitment and cost generally vary by state and course provider. And fortunately, today, most states offer online traffic school for your convenience.
Negotiate A Better Deal
In some jurisdictions, you can contact the prosecutor or clerk of the court handling your case and negotiate your case to have your offense downgraded to a non-moving violation. That said, even if you can negotiate a better deal, you will still need to pay court costs and a driving fine.
You can also negotiate a mitigation in which you plead guilty, but you can present your side and ask the judge to lower the fine. In the end, the outcome is up to the judge, and they may reduce your penalty or keep it the same.
When you’re issued a speeding ticket, you’re not obliged to pay for it right there and then. Paying your ticket is essentially admitting guilt.
In most states, you have at least a month to pay the fine. That said, you can ask for a continuance, which can move the date to later months. You can use this time to explore other options, such as those listed above. If you’re approved for a continuance and the officer that issued the ticket retires, is transferred, or is fired during that time, you can request a dismissal.
Wrapping It Up
No one likes receiving a speeding ticket. Aside from causing inconvenience, speeding citations can cause issues and financial burdens for years to come. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep it off your traffic record. So, the next time you find yourself being written off with a speeding ticket, consider the above methods to help you maintain a clean traffic record.
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