If You Get a Ticket in North Carolina

North Carolina, like most states, enforces stricter driving standards for commercial vehicle drivers than regular drivers. Violations will result in higher penalties and more severe consequences, including possible job loss and suspension or removal of your license. Many employers have a zero-tolerance policy for commercial drivers who are convicted of a violation. Additionally, if you are convicted of any violation in your personal vehicle that results in the suspension of your license, you will also have your CDL suspended.

CDL drivers who commit moving violations in North Carolina will be penalized with points on their record. When too many points accumulate, it can result in the loss of your license. Even minor offenses in a commercial vehicle can result in more points than would normally be given in a personal vehicle. An example of the number of points commercial drivers will receive for some of the most common violations include:

• Speeding 15 mph over the speed limit: 3 points — Applies when a commercial driver exceeds the posted limit by 15 mph or more, considered a serious traffic offense.
• Speeding in a school zone: 4 points — A higher penalty due to the increased risk to children and pedestrians in designated school zones.
• Failure to stop for an ambulance or fire truck: 4 points — Failing to yield to emergency vehicles endangers lives and violates traffic safety laws.
• Reckless driving: 5 points — This includes aggressive or dangerous driving behavior that shows disregard for safety, and carries the highest point value on this list.

North Carolina law states that any commercial drivers found guilty of violations while driving a commercial vehicle will not only receive increased points on their record but will also be penalized with double the fines and penalties, including jail time, that would be assigned for the same violation in a personal vehicle.

If you receive a ticket in North Carolina, it’s important to know that you should not just pay the fine without speaking to a legal representative first. By paying the fine, you are basically pleading guilty to a charge that could affect your driving record and, ultimately, your ability to keep driving.

Please note that your state and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regularly update these CDL requirements. Please visit the North Carolina DMV website and the FMCSA website for the most authoritative and up-to-date information regarding CDL requirements and processes.

North Carolina, like most states, enforces stricter driving standards for commercial vehicle drivers than regular drivers. Violations will result in higher penalties and more severe consequences, including possible job loss and suspension or removal of your license. Many employers have a zero-tolerance policy for commercial drivers who are convicted of a violation. Additionally, if you are convicted of any violation in your personal vehicle that results in the suspension of your license, you will also have your CDL suspended.

CDL drivers who commit moving violations in North Carolina will be penalized with points on their record. When too many points accumulate, it can result in the loss of your license. Even minor offenses in a commercial vehicle can result in more points than would normally be given in a personal vehicle. An example of the number of points commercial drivers will receive for some of the most common violations includes:

• Speeding 15 mph over the speed limit: 3 points — Applies when a commercial driver exceeds the posted limit by 15 mph or more, considered a serious traffic offense.
• Speeding in a school zone: 4 points — A higher penalty due to the increased risk to children and pedestrians in designated school zones.
• Failure to stop for an ambulance or fire truck: 4 points — Failing to yield to emergency vehicles endangers lives and violates traffic safety laws.
• Reckless driving: 5 points — This includes aggressive or dangerous driving behavior that shows disregard for safety, and carries the highest point value on this list.

North Carolina law states that any commercial drivers found guilty of violations while driving a commercial vehicle will not only receive increased points on their record but will also be penalized with double the fines and penalties, including jail time, that would be assigned for the same violation in a personal vehicle.

If you receive a ticket in North Carolina, it’s important to know that you should not just pay the fine without speaking to a legal representative first. By paying the fine, you are basically pleading guilty to a charge that could affect your driving record and, ultimately, your ability to keep driving.

Remember, the most important thing to remember when you receive a ticket is that you should never just pay the ticket or the court fees without first talking to a legal representative who understands trucking laws. While you want to maintain a clean driving record, unforeseen violations can happen. When they do, you need expert legal protection. Drivers Legal Plan, the Nation's Leading CDL Defense Law Firm, is ready to defend your rights and your career.