Your Teenager Has Gotten a Ticket. What Should You Do?
For any North Carolina driver, a ticket for a moving violation, such as speeding, running a red light, or not stopping for a siren, is an expensive mistake. Having to pay hundreds of dollars in fines and court costs is aggravating enough. But the resulting increase in insurance premiums over at least the next three years will likely add up to many times more than that.
In addition to those costs, pleading guilty or being convicted will add points to the driver’s record by the Division of Motor Vehicles. The number of such points accumulated over time may lead to the suspension or revocation of the driver’s license.
Tougher For Teenagers
If your teenage daughter or son has gotten a ticket, the stakes are even higher, both in total costs and the risk of losing driving privileges.
Because 16-19 year-olds are more likely to have accidents than any other age group, the initial cost of auto insurance is higher than for older drivers. As a result, when the insurer adds a percentage surcharge to their premiums based on a moving violation, their insurance costs are increased by more.
A 16 or 17-year-old driving with a North Carolina Provisional License may have that license suspended for any two or more moving violations within 12 months, even though the total points added to their driving record for such violations would not cause suspension of a full license. And any single moving violation may delay their eligibility to obtain full driving privileges once they are 18.
What a Traffic Attorney Can Do to Help
An experienced traffic attorney knows the Judges and the Assistant District Attorneys that will handle your teenager’s case and the police officers involved.
The attorney also knows the system and what can be done to get the charge dismissed or negotiate it to a less severe charge. This can help minimize or eliminate DMV points and the impact on insurance premiums and lessen the chances that your teenager’s license will be suspended or revoked.
So, if your teenager has gotten a ticket for a moving violation, don’t try to go it alone. Contact our team at Kelly & West. In our nearly 40 years of experience, we’ve defended our clients in hundreds of traffic ticket cases involving teenage drivers. We can guide you through the process and help you achieve the best outcome possible.