Raleigh Traffic Offense Lawyer
Serving Wake County & Beyond

Facing Traffic Charges in Raleigh?

Traffic offenses in North Carolina range from simple infractions to criminal misdemeanors that add points to your license, increase insurance costs, and can lead to suspension. Work with a Raleigh traffic lawyer who can negotiate reductions, handle court appearances, and keep violations off your record. Schedule your consultation now.

START CASE EVALUATION

It seems so simple. You got a ticket, and the fastest way to make it go away is to just pay it, right?

That’s exactly what the system wants you to think.

What most people don’t realize is that paying a traffic ticket is legally the same as pleading guilty in court. That seemingly minor decision can trigger a chain reaction of consequences: points on your license, skyrocketing insurance rates, and even the loss of your driving privileges.

At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we’ve helped thousands of drivers across North Carolina fight traffic charges and protect their driving privileges. We know how to navigate the system to minimize—or even eliminate—the impact of traffic citations on your life.

Don’t make a costly mistake. What you do next matters more than you think.

Why Traffic Tickets in North Carolina Are More Serious Than You Think

North Carolina has some of the strictest traffic laws in the country. What might be a simple fine in other states can lead to severe, long-lasting consequences here:

• Points on your license: North Carolina’s DMV assigns points for traffic violations. Accumulate too many, and your license will be suspended.
• Insurance points: Separate from DMV points, these can result in increased insurance rates for the next three years.
• Automatic license suspensions: Certain violations trigger automatic suspensions, regardless of your previous driving record.
• Employment consequences: Many jobs require a clean driving record. A single conviction can make you unemployable in certain fields.
• Commercial driver impacts: CDL holders face even harsher penalties, often including the loss of their professional license and livelihood.

The financial impact alone is staggering. A single speeding ticket can cost you thousands in increased insurance premiums over three years—far more than any fine you’d pay to the court.

Common Traffic Offenses We Handle

Our experienced traffic defense attorneys regularly represent clients facing all types of traffic violations in Raleigh, Morehead City, and throughout North Carolina:

Moving Violations

• Speeding tickets (both standard and high-speed violations)
• Reckless driving (one of the most serious traffic offenses)
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Improper passing
• Failure to yield right-of-way
• Unsafe movement
• Passing a stopped school bus
• Racing (which can lead to severe criminal penalties)

License and Registration Violations

• Driving with a revoked or suspended license
• Driving without a valid license
• Expired registration
• No insurance or lapsed coverage
• Expired or no inspection

Serious Traffic Crimes

• Hit and run/leaving the scene
• Fleeing to elude arrest
• Vehicular manslaughter

Each of these offenses carries its own set of penalties, points, and potential license consequences. What’s more, the impact can be multiplied if you already have points on your record or previous violations.

Schedule your Consultation Now

START CASE EVALUATION

250+ Reviews and counting

Effective Defense Strategies for Traffic Cases

When you hire DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we don’t just show up to court and hope for the best. We implement proven defense strategies specifically tailored to traffic cases:

Challenging the Evidence

• Radar and lidar accuracy: We examine calibration records and certification of the devices used to measure your speed.
• Officer observations: We challenge subjective assessments about your driving behavior.
• Procedural errors: We identify mistakes in how the citation was issued or how evidence was collected.

Negotiating Better Outcomes

• Reduction to non-moving violations: Many cases can be reduced to infractions that don’t add points to your license or insurance.
• Prayer for judgment continued (PJC): This unique North Carolina option can prevent points from being assessed.
• Improper equipment reductions: Converting moving violations to non-moving equipment violations.
• Dismissals: In many cases, we can get charges dismissed entirely.

Addressing License Suspensions

• Limited driving privileges: If your license has been suspended, we can often secure limited driving privileges so you can continue to work and handle essential needs.
• DMV hearings: We represent clients at administrative hearings to contest or minimize license suspensions.
• License reinstatement: We help clients navigate the complex process of getting their licenses back after a suspension.

Our goal is always the same: minimize or eliminate the impact of traffic charges on your driving record, insurance rates, and daily life.

Wake County Courthouse

Handles civil and criminal matters in Wake County

• Address: 300 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601
• Hours: M-F 8:30 A.M.-5 P.M.
• Phone:(919) 792-4000

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket

If you’ve received a traffic citation in North Carolina, follow these steps:

1. Don’t pay the ticket immediately. Remember, paying is the same as pleading guilty.
2. Note the court date on your citation. This is critical information you’ll need.
3. Gather information about the incident. Write down everything you remember about where, when, and how you were stopped.
4. Check your driving record to understand how new points might affect your license status.
5. Contact our office immediately for a free case evaluation. The sooner we can start working on your case, the more options we’ll have.

Many traffic cases can be resolved without you ever having to appear in court. Our attorneys can often represent you in your absence, saving you the time and stress of a court appearance.

You Don’t Have to Handle a Traffic Charge Alone

At DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall, we understand that traffic citations aren’t just about tickets—they’re about protecting your driving privileges, your insurance rates, and sometimes even your livelihood.

Our criminal defense attorneys have over 40 years of experience handling traffic offenses throughout North Carolina.

Call us now or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation. There’s a right way and a wrong way to handle traffic charges—let us help you make the smart choice.

Serving clients in Raleigh, Durham, Orange, Carteret, and Chatham Counties, and throughout North Carolina.

FAQs