I Just Got a Ticket for Going Over 100 mph — What’s Going to Happen?

In North Carolina, this kind of ticket doesn’t just get you a slap on the wrist — it can carry long lasting consequences, like serious increases in your insurance, a suspension of your license, or even a permanent criminal record.  In rare cases, sometimes an active jail sentence can be imposed.  If you received a ticket like this in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance, or Person County, here’s what we can do to protect your driving privilege, minimize the impact to your insurance rates.

When Does Speeding Become a Misdemeanor?

• North Carolina’s laws provide that it is a Class 3 Misdemeanor to speed in excess of 80mph over the speed limit (or greater than 15mph over the speed limit where the speed limit is 55mph or faster). 

• It is very common for a triple digit speed to be accompanied by Reckless Driving, which is a Class 2 Misdemeanor. 

Penalties You Might Face

Consequence	Possibility / Severity
Fines & court costs	It is common for judges to impose a higher fine for triple digit speeding tickets. The faster the ticket, the more likely you are to pay a higher fine. Court costs start at $191 and the fine typically ranges anywhere from $50 to $250, but largely depends on the judge and district attorney that handle your case. By statute, you will have 40 days to pay these funds online. There is also a $20 installment fee to pay later.
License suspension or revocation	North Carolina’s DMV carries some of the toughest suspension periods. For unreduced triple digit speeds, the DMV rules and regulations provide that the DMV can suspend your privilege for up to one (1) year!
Points on your driver’s record	Convictions can add points, which if you accumulate enough of these over a three (3) year period, you can receive a revocation. Per the most recent update in DMV regulations, these points now take longer to come off your driving record.
Insurance rate hikes	Possibly the harshest consequence of a triple digit speed is the increase in your insurance rates, which is experienced over a three (3) year period. If unreduced (or resolved as reckless driving), the current insurance regulations provide that a triple digit speed can carry up to a 90% increase in your insurance rates over three (3) years!
Jail time	Though very rare, if your ticket is fast enough, some judges in North Carolina could impose a short active jail sentence. This is almost exclusively reserved as the harshest punishment for repeat offenders that have a lengthy driving history who are repeatedly charged with very high speeding tickets. Under structured sentencing in North Carolina, you can only receive an active jail sentence if you have a prior criminal record. First time offenders cannot receive a jail sentence, no matter how fast the ticket.

What is the likely outcome for my ticket?

North Carolina’s Prosecutorial and Judicial District 11 includes the following counties:  Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance and Person County.  Though each county has its own prosecutors and judges that primarily cover a specific area, judicial officials are rotated in these counties, which means that it is common to have a different judicial official at each court setting.  Because you are likely to get a different official at every setting, the results that can be obtained for a triple digit speed vary and depend on several factors, including:

1. Your driving history;

2. How fast over 100mph you were alleged to be going (101mph vs. 109mph, etc.);

3. Whether you were rude to the officer;

4. Whether you have potential collateral consequences for a professional licensure, your immigration status, or loss of employment (such as if you drive for a living;

5. What you’ve done for mitigation (driving school, community service, etc.)

In some cases, it is possible to avoid a criminal record altogether and to have your triple digit speed reduced to a traffic infraction.  Call Scheuring Law, PLLC for a free consultation to see if this is a possibility for your ticket.

What You Should Do Now:

Here’s a step-by-step on how to proceed after being ticketed:

1. Read the citation carefully
   It will show your upcoming court date, citation number, all of your charges, as well as the county in which they were received.  You will need to provide this information to your attorney during your consultation. 

2. Don’t rush to plead guilty!
   It is a common reaction to want to plead guilty and get things over with.  In serious cases like triple digit speeds, there are several things that need to be completed in mitigation that the court will want done before resolving your case.  This includes driving school, community service, etc.  These things will also lessen the consequences of having such a fast ticket and when possible, minimize the impact this will have on your driving privilege, insurance rates, and criminal record. 

3. Hire an experienced traffic and criminal defense attorney
   Abraham Lincoln famously said, “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”  You should never represent yourself in court.  You wouldn’t do your own surgery, so why would you be your own attorney?  Unfortunately, there are no “do-over’s” in district court and when your case is done, it’s done.  If it’s not done right the first time, you could suffer long lasting or even permanent consequences. 

4. Don’t go to court expecting a “Prayer for Judgment Continued” (PJC)
   A Prayer for Judgment Continued is a special order that the judge can grant you that makes your ticket a non-moving violation.  This is something that only North Carolina does, but overwhelming is not an option for triple digit speeds.  Per the current DMV rules and regulations, this is not an option for tickets that have an original speed in excess of 25mph.  Even if granted, there is a strong likelihood that DMV will not recognize this and your license will be suspended.  For more information, please see our FAQ section and applicable blog article. 

5. Appear in court if required
   Most appearances can be waived, meaning your attorney can appear on your behalf using a signed waiver of appearance.  However, in some very serious cases, your appearance might be required in court.  When appearing in court, dress your best and leave your phone in the car, as they are not permitted in our courthouses.  Consult with your attorney to be advised as to the local procedure in your county. 

6. Watch for DMV / license actions
   Make sure your address is current with the DMV.  If you receive a suspension, the DMV will send you a letter in the mail, which notifies you of when your suspension takes place, how long it lasts, as well as whether you are eligible for a DMV hearing to possibly avoid the suspension.  If you miss your deadline to request a hearing, your right to a hearing is lost forever. 

How Scheuring Law, PLLC Can Help

At Scheuring Law, PLLC, we understand how overwhelming having a fast ticket like this can feel. Our firm has experience defending drivers facing triple digit speeding tickets in Granville, Franklin, Vance, Warren, and Person counties. We know the local procedure and will fight to get you the best possible outcome for your case. 

Call Scheuring Law, PLLC today for a free consultation and let’s get a plan together and start working on your case.

The information provided herein is given for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.  Never take any action without first consulting with an attorney.  Failure to do so can result in your license being suspended, your insurance rates going up, or in some cases, potentially going to jail or have a permanent conviction on your criminal record.  No attorney client relationship is formed by the information being provided herein.