Should I Pay My Ticket Or Go To Court?

When you get a ticket for speeding in North Carolina, you have two options for how to deal with it. You can pay the amount due listed on the ticket directly to the court and resolve this issue quickly and easily, or you can go to court and fight the ticket. Either option can be a good idea, but it depends on the situation. You should make the decision based on the circumstances and evidence available for your case.

NerdWallet explains paying the ticket is an admission of guilt, which you do not want to do if you feel you are not guilty. Additionally, it could lead to higher insurance rates or other issues, depending on how fast you were going and the points already on your driving record.

If you go to court, you may be able to win your case, which means you will not have the ticket on your driving record, nor will you have to pay the fine. At court, the officer must show up, too. If he or she fails to come, the judge may rule in your favor, but do not count on this happening. Even if the officer comes, you may be able to get out of a ticket if the officer cannot recall the details of your traffic stop. Just understand that it is not easy to beat a ticket in court without building a good case.

At any rate, you may not be able to beat the charge, but you could ask the judge for an alternative punishment. Instead of paying the fine and getting a charge on your record, you could agree to go to traffic school, for example. It all depends on the judge and what the law allows in your situation, but it is worth checking out if you worry about the repercussions of just paying the ticket and accepting fault. This information is for education and is not legal advice.