PAY A SPEEDING TICKET? ….NOT SO FAST

By Mike Edwards

Drivers beware.   North Carolina state government, in its infinite wisdom, has recently implemented a new “Pay NC ticket” online program being touted and praised by state government officials.  The program allows drivers who receive a speeding ticket to avoid the hassle of having to go to court by being able to pay their ticket off via an online collection program.  Sounds like the best thing since sliced bread.  But…I warn you…you’d better read the fine print.

The reality is that the state is encouraging drivers who get written up for speeding to enjoy the convenience of not contesting the charge by paying the ticket off with a credit card.  The officer who writes the ticket will be more than happy to explain how easy it is to pay off the ticket that he just gave you.  The officer may even smile and tell you to have a nice day.

Who wins?  The driver, or the state?    You be the judge.  

First of all, it is a state officer who writes you the ticket.  The state government then encourages you to pay the ticket and bypass going into the state court to negotiate the charge downward which can save you increases in insurance and license points.   Oh yeah…and the state government receives the money which is used in part to pay the state officer who wrote you the ticket and to pay the state employees collecting the money through the online plan.  Not a bad set-up for state government. Sort of the best thing since sliced bread….for state government that is.  Is it any wonder that the state thinks this plan is fantastic?

Meanwhile, what state government and the state officers don’t tell you is this:  If you pay off a ticket that is written for over 10 miles per hour over, as the vast majority of tickets are, you will receive an insurance increase which will cost you big-time over three long years.  A simple ticket written for speeding 70 in a 55 zone or 50 in a 35 zone will raise your insurance costs up to 48% each year for three years...even if you have a totally clean driving record.

As an attorney who handles hundreds of tickets for drivers each year, I warn you not to be deceived by an ill-advised and misleading government program disguised as a convenience to you.  As an attorney, I encourage all drivers to consult with your insurance agent and/or your attorney before paying off any ticket online.  The financial consequences to you can be devastating, as state government and insurance companies are smiling all the way to the bank.