NORTH CAROLINA · SHOW THE LAW · EDUCATE ON OPTIONS · ROUTE THE DECISION
The North Carolina Traffic War Room
A North Carolina citation is disposed under Chapter 15A, Article 66 when the offense is an infraction — and as a criminal case when it is not. The classification is per-offense: the platform SHOWS the charged statute verbatim with its consequences, and routes the decision.
- • The infraction procedure is loaded verbatim: Article 66 governs disposition (§ 15A-1111), with jurisdiction and hearing procedure in § 15A-1114.
- • The infraction DEFINITION itself lives in G.S. 14-3.1 — a chapter not yet loaded; the platform points to it honestly rather than quoting from memory.
- • The criminal zone (impaired driving § 20-179 and its family) is ROUTE-ONLY: criminal defense is counsel's work, full stop.
- • Failure to appear or pay is its own machine: the court must report (§ 15A-1116), and the Division revokes (§ 20-24.1) — the collateral clock most people never see coming.
The options the law provides
Shown, not recommended. Each is a lane, with what it involves and its stated consequences.
Pay / admit responsibility (where waivable)
Many infractions carry a waiver list — payment disposes of the charge without a hearing.
Ch. 15A, art. 66 (procedure); the AOC waiver lists govern which offenses
- Disposition on the record
- DMV points may follow the offense (G.S. 20-16 family)
- Insurance consequences ride a separate ledger — educated, never promised
Contest it at the infraction hearing
The 15A-1114 hearing — the State proves the infraction; the hearing is the forum for the facts.
G.S. 15A-1114
- The court disposes per Article 66
- Failure to appear has its own machine (below)
Ask about a PJC — North Carolina's signature device
The court continues prayer for judgment — on payment of costs, without more, no judgment enters (§ 15A-101's own words).
G.S. 15A-101; G.S. 20-4.01
- A third or subsequent PJC within any five-year period counts as a conviction under the motor-vehicle definitions (§ 20-4.01).
- ANY PJC counts for a commercial-license holder (§ 20-4.01) — the CDL exception swallows the device.
- Insurance-points treatment is a separate ledger — educated, never promised.
Retain a licensed North Carolina attorney
Traffic practice is judgment — reductions, the PJC budget, and the criminal zone (DWI) are counsel's work.
The routing doctrine — see below
- The decision stays yours or counsel's — this platform never picks a lane for you
The DMV consequence layer — the numbers from the statutes
Suspension authority includes the accumulation thresholds — 12 or more points in three years (8 after a reinstatement) — from the statute's own sentence.
G.S. 20-16
MANDATORY suspension on conviction of excessive speeding, with the statute's own limited-driving-permit lane for qualifying first offenders.
G.S. 20-16.1
Revocation for failure to appear or to pay a fine, penalty, or costs — the Division MUST act on the report; the way back is compliance plus the statute's own restoration terms.
G.S. 20-24.1
The charged statutes — read the law itself
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