Traffic on the Outer Banks and across Northeast North Carolina moves along pretty fast. Visitors are eager to explore and enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer. Locals just want to get where they're going. All too often those traveling along Highways 158, 168, 64, and 17 experience that sinking sensation that accompanies the flash of blue lights in the rearview.
If you have been charged with speeding or any traffic offense, the law office of David R. Hamm can help. In most cases, you will not have to personally appear in court.
Call for a free initial consultation.
I really was speeding. Can't I just pay the ticket off?
Most people don't understand that paying a ticket off is the essesntially same as pleading "Guilty" to the charge.
They simply pay it off online or send in the money without realizing that the accompanying drivers license points may increase their insurance points and cause a substantial increase in insurance premiums.Are Drivers License Points and Insurance Points the same?
Driver's license points and insurance points ARE NOT the same.
DMV Points or "Drivers License Points" affect your privilege to drive.
"Insurance Points" hit you in the wallet.
Driver's License Points:
Driver's License Points are placed against your record by NC DMV each time you are convicted of a specified traffic offense. A driver that is assessed 7 points may be required to complete a Driver Improvement Clinic.
The license of any driver accumulating 12 points within a three-year period may be suspended.
Note: The penalties for Commercial Drivers are even more severe.
| Drivers License Points | Offense |
|---|---|
| 5 | Passing a stopped school bus; aggressive driving |
| 4 |
Reckless driving; Hit and run (property damage only); Following too closely; Driving on wrong side of road; Illegal passing; Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian pursuant to GS 20-158(b)(2); Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle, motor scooter, or motorcycle |
| 3 |
Running stop sign; Speeding more than 55 mph; Speeding through a school zone; Failure to yield right of way; Running red light; Failure to stop for siren; Speeding through safety zone; Failure to report accident; No liability insurance |
| 2 |
Reckless driving; Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only; Passing a stopped school bus; Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph; Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or greater; Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs |
| 1 |
At-fault accident resulting in death, or total bodily injury* (to all persons) in excess of $1,800; OR resulting in total
property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) of $3,000 or more. |
Insurance Points:
The General Assembly enacted the North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) to reward and encurage safe driving. Inurance rates are regulated by The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI). Drivers who are convicted of moving traffic violations and/or cause accidents are charged higher premiums. Having even 1 Insurance Point will cause your insurance premium to increase by 25%. Rate increases stay in effect for 3 years.
1 point = 25% increase2 points = 45% increase
3 points = 65% increase
4 points = 90% increase
5 points = 120% increase
6 points = 150% increase
7 points = 180% increase
8 points = 220% increase
9 points = 260% increase
10 points = 300% increase
SDIP Insurance Points are charged as follows for convictions and at-fault accidents:
| Insurance Points | Offense |
|---|---|
| 12 | Manslaughter or negligent homicide; Prearranged highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for prearranged highway racing; Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death; Driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more; Driving commercial vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of .04 or more; Driving while impaired; Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor for sale |
| 10 |
Highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for highway racing; Speeding to elude arrest |
| 8 |
Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration; agressive driving |
| 4 |
Reckless driving; Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only; Passing a stopped school bus; Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph; Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or greater; Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs |
| 3 |
At-fault accident resulting in death, or total bodily injury* (to all persons) in excess of $1,800; OR resulting in total
property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) of $3,000 or more. |
| 2 |
Illegal passing; Following too closely; Driving on wrong side of the road; At-fault accident resulting in total property damage (including damage to Insured’s own property) in excess of $1,800 but less than $3,000; Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit provided the total speed is in excess of 55 mph, but less than 76 mph; Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed zone of 55 mph or greater |
| 1 |
At-fault accident resulting in bodily injury* (to all persons) of $1,800 or less; OR resulting in property damage (including
damage to insured’s own property) of $1,800 or less; Speeding 10 mph or less in excess of speed limit of less than 55 mph; All other moving violations |
