I Recieved a Citation for a speeding ticket (My First) for going 90 in a 60mph from the NC State Highway patrol on an highway in Columbus County ... I recieved the ticket in a different county in North Carolina from where live which is Cumberland.
1): What are the consequences for my citiation?
2): Is having an attorney a must have for this violation ?
3): Can I have my court appearance moved to my county?
4): What would take place in this court appearance?
5): How much will it cost to obtain an Attorney?
6): If I don't appear for court , can I be extradited from Cumberland County to Columbus County?
With as many questions as you have you should really obtain an in-person consultation with a criminal defense attorney who handles traffic matters as well. Good luck to you.
Sounds like this could be a criminal speeding ticket. You should contact an attorney in your area to go over the specific rules and requirements for that court. If you don't appear at the court date then in all likelihood the judge will issue a bench warrant for you and could even result in an additional failure to appear charge. Best to speak with an attorney and not miss your court date.
1) Without having your full NC driving history, there is no way to tell what the consequences may be. However, being cited for going 90mph is one of the more serious traffic tickets.
2) You are the only person who can decide if you want an attorney or not. I strongly recommend speaking with an attorney about your situation though.
3) No. Your ticket will be handled in the county you were cited in.
4) It depends on how Columbus County runs their traffic courtroom. Every county is different in this regard.
5) There is no way to tell. You would have to contact attorneys who handle traffic tickets in Columbus County and ask them what their fee will be.
6) No, but failure to appear in court could result in your driving privileges to be suspended by the NCDMV.
The bottom line is I highly recommend you speak with an attorney about your ticket with a local attorney in Columbus County.
If you have an attorney represent you, you won't have to go to court. Your case cannot be heard in or moved yo another bounty. A conviction of speeding 90/60 zone will suspend your license for a full year- so get an attorney. I recommend you call Attorney William Phipps. He's in Columbus County, I've known him for what seems like forever, and he's really good. I'd hire him in a minute if I ever needed legal help,in that part of NC
In addition to what the other attorneys have said (with which I agree), I offer that you should really try to find an attorney with close professional relationships at the Columbus County courthouse. For better or worse, how well the local attorney knows the assistant DAs does matter in instances like this, especially when losing your license for a year is a real possibility. Take the time to thoroughly and thoughtfully vet attorneys who regularly negotiate traffic matters in Columbus County. You cannot risk not having an insider who can leverage professional relationships to get the best possible deal for you. There are no guarantees, but you need as many advantages on your side as you can get.
You are facing upto 20 days in jail, $200 fine, and court costs if convicted of the charge. The jail sentenced may be suspended and you may be placed on supervised probation. First time offenders are punished by a fine and court costs only.
Your license may also get suspended if you are convicted of this offense. If you are licensed in NC, your licensed is going to be suspended. Also, your insurance premiums will likely increase.
You are not required to have an attorney for this violation. However, it is advisable. You do however have a right to represent yourself.
The court appearance will not be moved to your county. You or your attorney will have to travel to Columbus County for court.
In court will likely be offered a plea agreement which may involve driving school or community service by the District Attorneys Office. You also have a right to trial in front of a judge. If you lose, you can appeal to Superior Court and have a jury trial.
The costs for attorneys fees widely vary. You would have to speak to an individual attorney.
If you do not appear for court, an arrest warrant can be issued for you, and your license may also be suspended. I more often see people facing serious issues due to suspended licenses than extraditions because of unpaid speeding tickets.
You aksed several questions, so I will attempt to tackle them one at a time:
1: Assuming you are convicted of speeding 90 in a 60, your driver's license (if it is a North Carolina License) will be revoked. If you have an out-of-state license, your North Carolina driving privilege will be revoked. There is a possibility that the District Attorney might reduce your citation to a lesser offense that will not revoke your license. I recommend that you speak with a local attorney, who knows that DA's office who could negotiate with the ADA on your behalf.
2: You are not required to have an attorney represent you on this type of citation, but I strongly recommend that you hire an attorney.
3: Generally no. In North Carolina, an offense is tried in the county where the alleged offense took place. If you were cited in Columbus County then your case will be heard in Whiteville.
4: Every county handles court slightly differently. To have this question answered, I would recommend consulting with an attorney who practices in Columbus County.
5: This varies lawyer to lawyer, and I would not want to speak for another attorney. The cost of hiring a lawyer also depends on how much time that lawyer thinks it will take him to resolve your case.
6: If you do not attend court and you do not hire a lawyer to go to court for you, you will eventually have a Failure to Appear (FTA) entered in your case. This FTA will be reported to DMV and they will suspend your driver's license until you return to court and dispose of your ticket. Some counties issue orders for arrest (OFA) in traffic cases, others do not. 90 in a 60 zone is a criminal offense, so the court could issue an order for your arrest if you fail to come to court. If they do, you could be arrested in Cumberland County. Extradition only applies to situations where you are arrested in another state of country. It is not relevant when you are arrested in another county in the same state.
At the risk of being repetitive, I cannot strongly enough suggest that you speak with an attorney who goes to court in Whiteville.
