How do I waive a traffic ticket?

In North Carolina, you are often required to attend a court hearing where a judge sets your fine and other punishments if you receive a traffic ticket. However, in some cases, you can waive a traffic ticket, which is a way that you can resolve your traffic ticket without the need to attend a court hearing.

Three Options for Waiving a Traffic Ticket in Charlotte

When you are waiving a traffic ticket, you are pleading guilty and paying the fine and costs before the scheduled court hearing. You can only waive certain offenses, and there are currently over 40 traffic violations that qualify. Some examples include exceeding a safe speed, not wearing a seat belt, not yielding for a pedestrian, and failing to yield at a stop sign.

You have three ways to waive your traffic ticket. Your traffic ticket should state whether the infraction is waivable and include waiver instructions. Here is how you can do this:

• Online. You can waive your ticket online through the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s online services. You would need to pay the fine and costs with a credit or debit card before your court hearing date.
• In person. To waive your ticket in person, you must sign the waiver portion of your traffic ticket in front of the court clerk or magistrate and pay what you owe. You can pay by cash, certified check, cashier’s check, money order, credit card, or debit card.
• By mail. You also have the option of waiving by mail. To do this, you must date and sign the waivable part of your citation and mail it with your payment to the Clerk of the Superior Court of the county where you were ticketed. The address to mail the signed citation and your payment to should be listed in the waiver instructions on the ticket. You can only pay by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order.

How to Decide Whether to Waive a Traffic Offense

While you may believe it is easier to just waive a traffic offense and pay the fines and costs that you owe, this may not be in your best interests. Besides the hefty fine you must pay, you could face long-term consequences, such as points on your driving record and increased insurance costs.

Have you Received a Traffic Citation in Charlotte, NC?

If you received a traffic citation, you need to speak with an experienced traffic ticket attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Charlotte office directly at 980.207.3355 to schedule your free consultation.