What is a PJC and When Should I Use One in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance, or Person County, NC?

Dec 3

If you are facing legal challenges in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance, or Person County, you may have heard the term PJC—but what is a PJC and when can you use one? Understanding this can help protect your rights and potentially avoid more serious consequences for your driving privilege and insurance rates.

What is a PJC?

A PJC, or Prayer for Judgment Continued is special order from the judge, in which judgment is continued indefinitely. PJC’s are unique to North Carolina and in many cases are not recognized by other jurisdictions (such as if you are from out of state and have a speeding ticket here in NC).

A PJC is most commonly used in traffic offenses to avoid points on your insurance or driver’s license, but also it can be used for certain criminal offenses, whether that be felonies or misdemeanors. Though it is very rare to be used in this way.

It is entirely within the judge’s discretion whether to grant the PJC or not. Sometimes, the judge will ask the District Attorney if they have any position on whether the PJC should be granted.

By statute, the judge cannot grant you a PJC if your original speed is in excess of 25mph. Many people often request a PJC but aren’t aware that the District Attorney might reduce their ticket to a non-moving violation, which would preserve your PJC for future use.

Similarly, by statute, you cannot use a PJC for a Driving While Impaired offense, though it might be an option if you’ve been charged with Driving After Consuming < 21.

You can only use a certain number of PJC’s within a time period, which was most recently updated with the most recent changes to the insurance regulations that went into effect 7/1/2025.

It is unfortunately very common to see people who represent themselves in court requesting PJC’s without consulting with an attorney. If a judge grants you a PJC and you have already used one, your PJC’s will cancel out and you will experience an insurance increase for both citations!

Similarly, if you have a CDL (commercial driver’s license), NC will not recognize a PJC in any way whatsoever.

It is also important to note that when a PJC is granted on a speed that is not reduced, this often results in a conviction on your criminal record, because most high speeds are charged as class 3 misdemeanors in North Carolina. This means that this will show up on a criminal background report.

A PJC is a guilty plea and a conviction on your criminal record. There is disagreement about whether you can expunge a PJC off of your record, in regards to a conviction under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5. When a PJC is granted, the judge can impose court costs only ($191 or $193) and cannot order that you serve probation or jail time or any additional fine.

When Should I Consider a PJC?

A PJC can be a useful option in several situations, including:

Avoiding a moving violation while suspended;

It is very common to have a speeding ticket coupled with a driving while license revoked citation. Even if you reinstate your driver’s license, if you plead to a moving violation, the DMV will retroactively suspend your license again! A PJC might be a way to avoid this.

Also, by statute, driving while license revoked carries a 195% increase in insurance over a 3 year period. This might be a way to avoid that massive increase in insurance.

Avoiding a suspension for multiple tickets within a short time;

If you received multiple tickets within a relatively short time period, you might need to use a PJC to avoid a revocation. Common revocations in NC include being convicted of the following offenses within 12 months of each other:

2 tickets over 55mph;
A ticket over 55mph and a reckless driving;
A reckless driving and an aggressive driving;
OR these offenses at any time:
Speeding over 80mph;
Speeding over 15mph where the speed limit exceeds 65mph;
Accumulating 8 or more points within 3 years.

Work Zone / School Zone Speeding Tickets;

Every county and Judge varies when it comes to the local rules about PJC’s and whether to grant them. In some counties, the District Attorneys and Judges regularly grant PJC’s for work zone or school zone tickets, while others do not. It is important to consult with a local attorney in your jurisdiction to see whether this is an option.

Red Light / Stop Sign Violations;

Sometimes, the only way to avoid an increase in your insurance for a red light or stop sign ticket is to use your PJC. Once again, every county has different policies when it comes to whether this is an option and it is best to consult with a local attorney before doing anything with your case.

Misdemeanor / Felony Offenses;

In very limited situations, the district attorney’s office is just seeking a conviction for a criminal offense and does not wish to pursue probation or jail time. In these very rare situations, a PJC might be an appropriate way to resolve your case. Overwhelmingly, this is not the case for most criminal offenses.

High Speeds / Reckless Driving;

By statute, the Judge cannot grant you a PJC for a speeding ticket where the original charged speed was in excess of 25mph over the speed limit. This is true even if you get the speeding ticket reduced, as the DMV will refuse to recognize it and will instead recognize as if you plead to the original unreduced speed! This almost always results in a revocation.

However, in some very limited cases, the District Attorney and Judge might be willing to grant you a PJC on a reckless driving that is coupled with a high speeding ticket. When available, this avoids a revocation, as well as a large increase in insurance.

Driving After Consuming < 21;

Though you cannot use a PJC for a Driving While Impaired offense, you might be able to use one for a driving after consuming < 21. This avoids the mandatory one (1) year revocation of your license and could help save on insurance, though generally now, insurance companies can increase your insurance if you receive a conviction and are under 21 years of age (this is commonly referred to as a young driver surcharge). In order to earn a PJC for this type of offense, you must complete a number of conditions, including but not limited to: substance abuse assessment and treatment, community service, among other things. Consult with a local attorney to see if this is an option for your case.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

Navigating the court system and requesting a PJC in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance, or Person County can be complicated. An experienced traffic attorney can:

Advise whether your offense qualifies for a PJC
Prepare the necessary documentation and petitions for the court
Represent you during hearings to maximize the likelihood of a favorable outcome

A well-timed PJC can save you money, protect your driving privileges, and prevent unnecessary legal trouble.

Conclusion

A Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) is a valuable legal tool for managing offenses in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Vance, and Person Counties. If you’re facing a situation where a PJC might help, it’s best to act quickly and consult with an experienced attorney who understands local court practices.

At Scheuring Law, PLLC, we guide clients through these processes with clarity and care. If you’re dealing with a traffic violation or minor misdemeanor, contact us today to discuss whether a PJC could be the right solution for you.

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.

Victor Rusu