Speeding Ticket and Excessive Speeding Laws – NC DMV Suspensions and Hearings

There are technical differences between a "License Suspension" and a "License Revocation" in North Carolina. Defense attorneys and even NC DMV tend to use the terms interchangeably.

An easy way to think about it is this:

A license suspension is said to "temporary." Your North Carolina driver's license remains in effect. "S" for suspension or "Some Time" or "Something to be done."

A license revocation in North Carolina is just that, your license is revoked. "R" for "Revoked" or "Rats, I need to go to DMV."

You essentially start over and "re-apply" for a license through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) / Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

What Are the Most Common Ways Your License Is Revoked or Suspended in North Carolina?

Two of the more common reasons for suspension are:

• License Suspensions due to excessive speed
• License Suspensions due to too many tickets over a certain period of time

Can I Lose My License Even if I Have a Perfect Record?

Yes, there are some traffic citations that require loss of license in North Carolina. They include, but are not limited to:

• Prearranged Speed Competition (Drag Racing)
• Speeding in excess of 75 m.p.h. on any roadway
• Driving While Impaired DWI
• Failure to Heed Blue Light / Failure to Stop for Law Enforcement

Pay the Traffic Ticket / Negotiate a Plea / Plead Guilty / Plead "Responsible" to Infraction:

• "Plea Bargain" to "Lesser Included Offense"
• Costs of Court
• Fines
• Possible Insurance Points
• Possible Motor Vehicle (DMV) License Points

Fight the Traffic Citation

• Plead Not Guilty / Plead Not Responsible for Traffic Infraction
• Potentially lose option to Plea Bargain
• Take Traffic Ticket to Trial
• Represent Yourself at Trial / "Pro Se" stands for "For Himself"
• Retain Traffic Ticket Lawyer / Legal Representation
• If convicted, seek minimal fines, costs, and conditions of a judgment
• Request a Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) if eligible
• If Guilty, pay Costs of Court, Fines
• If Guilty, possible Driver's License Points and possible Insurance Points
• If Guilty, possible imposition of additional terms of Judgment - Community Service and Driving School

CLICK HERE: Fighting My Traffic Ticket – What are my options?

Heading to a DMV hearing after receiving a North Carolina traffic citation (or multiple traffic tickets over time) can be an intimidating experience.

If you don't know much about how the DMV legal system works, you will likely be at a tremendous disadvantage.

"Many people fail to realize the Hearing Officer at NC DMV, the person who decides what will happen to your license, is also the prosecutor. They are given a tremendous amount of discretion in determining your fate and your ability to drive."

People don't always understand the importance of having a valid driver's license in North Carolina. If you can't drive legally, it makes it hard to find and keep a good job. If you choose to drive while your license is suspended or revoked, the chances of having more and more serious problems increases exponentially.

LEARN MORE: Why it's a REALLY bad idea to drive while license revoked in North Carolina

The traffic lawyers at our law firm are experienced in handling both traffic tickets in court, as well as providing legal representation at DMV appeals, DMV hearings, and DMV restoration hearings.

What may have worked for a friend or family member may have no relevance to your traffic ticket or NC driver license. It seems easy until you're sitting in court or at the DMV Office, waiting to have your case called.

Traffic law hearings can be complicated, even for attorneys with substantial experience.

Too many motorists, trying to go the DYI route, find themselves waiting in court or DMV, not knowing what to do. When you consider the expense and hassle of missing work, driving to DMV, and waiting to be called, it doesn't take long to realize this: Hiring a lawyer often makes good financial sense.

And what happens if things don't go well in court or at the DMV hearing?

Speeding, reckless driving, aggressive driving, and running a stop sign or a red light, are all violations that have the potential to lead to points being assessed on a driver's license.

In addition to providing reliable legal advice about insurance points, DMV points, and the costs of certain citations, Traffic Lawyers provide peace of mind.

Let our defense lawyers lift the burden of going to court from your shoulders. If you have a DMV restoration hearing, we'll help prepare the materials necessary and stand literally side-by-side with you when appearing in front of the NC DMV Hearing Officer.

Now is the time to call.

We're here to help. We offer a free consultation. If we think you can handle a traffic citation by yourself and that makes sense, we'll tell you. If we think we can help or that you'd be better served with legal representation, we will tell you that as well.

Call NOW: 704-342-4357

• How Violations Affect Insurance Rates
• What happens if I pay my ticket?
• Reckless Driving in North Carolina: What is Reckless Driving NC?
• What to Do When You Receive a Traffic Ticket
• Passing a Stopped School Bus in North Carolina