North Carolina utilizes a points system to track driving violations and their severity. If you accumulate enough points in a three-year period, your North Carolina driver’s license gets suspended.
If you’ve been ticketed for a driving violation or been charged with a driving-related crime, it’s important to keep track of how many points you’ve accumulated.
Understanding North Carolina’s License Points System
Many of the more serious driving offenses can lead to an automatic license suspension in North Carolina. Examples of these include DWI, leaving the scene of an accident where someone was injured, and trying to flee from a police officer. However, not all traffic violations are considered severe enough to merit the automatic loss of your license.
If you accumulate 12 driving points across three years, your license will be suspended. If you’ve had a suspended or revoked license in the past, you face a higher risk of another suspension. In this case, accumulating eight points in three years leads to suspension.
It can be easy to lose track of how many points your license has accumulated, especially if you’re unsure of how many points you’ve collected for different driving violations. Taking a look at some of the most common driving violations can give you an idea of the state of your license.
North Carolina Driving Infractions and Points
North Carolina driving infractions can bring anywhere from zero to five points against your license. A higher scale is used for awarding points against a commercial driver’s license.
The two offenses most likely to incur five points against your license are aggressive driving and passing a stopped school bus. Offenses that incur four points include:
- Reckless driving
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Passing illegally
- Hit and run involving property damage only
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian, bike, motorcycle, or e-scooter
Three and four-point violations are by far the most common. Offenses that bring three points against your license include:
- Running a stop sign or red light
- Speeding in excess of 55 mph
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Failure to stop for a siren
- Speeding in a school zone
- Failing to report an accident
- Driving with no liability insurance
- Driving with no driver’s license
- Driving with a driver’s license expired for more than a year
In comparison, fewer violations bring only one or two points. Littering is a one-point violation. Failing to restrain a child in a car seat or seat belt is a two-point violation, as are most other moving violations.
Some offenses bring no points against your license. Such offenses include having a concealed weapon and having an incorrect vehicle registration.
Consult a North Carolina Traffic Violation Lawyer Today
Points against your license can add up easily, especially if months or years go by between violations. A North Carolina traffic violation lawyer can help fight back against unfair points on your license.
With a skilled lawyer on your case, there’s a better chance that you won’t end up having your driver’s license suspended over a few minor driving infractions.