The North Carolina Mecklenburg County Courthouse hears the following citations issued in Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Pineville, Stallings, and Weddington.
Speeding
Speeding tickets are charged as a class 3 misdemeanors (N.C.G.S. 20-141(j1)) or infractions (N.C.G.S. 20-141(b)), depending on the speed and speed limit charged. Most speeding tickets in Mecklenburg County can be resolved without appearing in court if you have an attorney. Generally, an attorney can negotiate your case with an assistant district attorney (ADA) to avoid License and Insurance Points, depending on your driving history.
Work zone speeding violations are charged under N.C.G.S. 20-141(j2) and carry mandatory fines of $250 in addition to court costs. However, we can appear in court for you and negotiate with the ADA in an effort to avoid Insurance Points, depending on your driving history.
Mecklenburg County does allow for reductions for these offenses, but it is not uncommon for a driving course to be required. While a Prayer for Judgment (PJC) is allowed for a school zone violation, it is usually not the best outcome for your case and many judges will not grant them anyway. Therefore it is ill-advised to simply pay this ticket in Mecklenburg County since an attorney can typically successfully negotiate with the ADA.
Speeding in a School Zone
School zone violations are very similar to work zone violations and are charged under N.C.G.S. 20-141.1. Like work zone violations, school zone violations carry mandatory fines of $250 and we can appear in court for you to negotiate with the ADA. While PJCs can be used, they are usually not the best outcome, depending on your driving history. However, unlike work zone violations, speeding in a school zone will assess insurance points regardless of your driving history. Therefore, in Mecklenburg County, it is best retain a knowledgeable attorney to guide you.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a class 2 misdemeanor and is charged under two circumstances: 1) driving carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others (N.C.G.S. 20-140(a)) or 2) driving without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property (N.C.G.S. 20-140(b)). The difference stems from whether the charge was based on the actual recklessness of the driving (swerving, erratic lane changes, etc.) or based on a high rate of speed over the speed limit.
In Mecklenburg County, we can negotiate with the ADA in an effort to dismiss these charges and usually amend underlying charged speed as well. However, if the speed charged is 100 mph or more, Mecklenburg DA policy requires additional steps to have the charge amended. We are experienced in negotiating these offenses and recommend hiring a knowledgeable attorney to go to court in your place.
