If You See Blue,
Call DONAHUE
Call DONAHUE
Dare County Speeding Ticket Lawyer (Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Hatteras)
Speeding Ticket in Dare County?
A Dare County speeding ticket is decided in Dare County District Court at the Dare County Justice Center, 962 Marshall Collins Drive in Manteo, and paying it counts as a conviction. Tickets come from the beach towns, the roads onto Roanoke Island, and NC 12 down Hatteras Island.
Dare County has six incorporated towns, and each has its own police department: Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Manteo. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office and the NC State Highway Patrol also patrol the county. Tickets written by National Park Service rangers on Cape Hatteras National Seashore go to federal court instead. See federal charges in the Outer Banks.
Daniel Donahue is a Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law, certified by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He is the only board-certified criminal law specialist based in Dare County, and he handles traffic tickets in Dare County District Court from his office in Nags Head.
Got a speeding ticket anywhere from Duck to Hatteras? Call or text Donahue Defense at 252-715-5785 before you pay it.
Fastest way to start: text a photo of your ticket to 252-715-5785. We will reply with what happens next and what we need from you.
Where Dare County Speeding Tickets Come From
- US 158, the Bypass: through Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head
- NC 12, the Beach Road: through the same towns, and north through Southern Shores and Duck
- US 64 and US 264: across Roanoke Island and Manteo, and onto the mainland at Manns Harbor
- NC 12 on Hatteras Island: through Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras village
What a Dare County Speeding Ticket Can Cost You
A speeding conviction counts twice: DMV license points under N.C.G.S. Section 20-16, and insurance points under the Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP), administered by the NC Commissioner of Insurance.
| Example on a 55 mph road | Charge | NC DMV points | SDIP insurance points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 in a 55 | Infraction | 3 | Usually none if you have no other moving violation in the past five years; otherwise 2 points, a 55% increase for three years |
| 70 in a 55 | Infraction | 3 | 2 points, a 55% increase for three years |
| 72 in a 55 | Class 3 misdemeanor (more than 15 over) | 3 | 2 points, a 55% increase for three years |
| 80 in a 55 | Class 3 misdemeanor | 3, and DMV can suspend your license | 4 points, a 90% increase for three years |
On roads with lower limits, the numbers change: speeding at 55 mph or less draws 2 DMV points instead of 3. DMV can suspend your license for speeding more than 75 mph where the limit is under 70 mph, or for two speeding convictions over 55 mph within 12 months. Very high speed can also lead to a reckless driving charge. For the insurance math, see Dare County speeding tickets and insurance points.
Can a Traffic Conviction Suspend Your License?
Yes. Under N.C.G.S. Section 20-16, the NC Division of Motor Vehicles can suspend a license when its records show any of the following:
- A conviction for speeding more than 75 mph where the limit is less than 70 mph
- A conviction for speeding more than 80 mph where the limit is 70 mph
- Two or more speeding convictions over 55 mph (and not more than 80 mph) within 12 months
- A reckless driving or aggressive driving conviction plus a speeding conviction over 55 mph within 12 months
- 12 or more DMV points within three years, or 8 or more points in the three years after a license is reinstated following a suspension for traffic offenses
A first suspension under the point system lasts up to 60 days, a second up to six months, and any later one up to a year. For a first suspension based on speed, a district court judge may allow a limited driving privilege if you have no other moving violation conviction in the past 12 months, and DMV may substitute probation for a suspension. Paying a ticket is a conviction, so find out whether your charge carries one of these risks before you pay.
Visitors Ticketed in Dare County
From June through September, about two in three of our clients live outside North Carolina. A North Carolina conviction can be reported to your home state, and each state applies its own law to it. Virginia DMV, for example, says on its website that it assigns demerit points for traffic convictions from other states. For how your state would treat a conviction, check with its licensing agency or a lawyer licensed there. See out-of-state tickets for links to what Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York publish about out-of-state convictions.
Do I Have to Come to Court in Manteo?
Often not. For many speeding tickets, your lawyer can appear for you in Dare County District Court, so you do not have to come back to the Outer Banks. We will tell you early if your case needs you in person.
How We Can Help
- Explain the DMV points, SDIP insurance points, and license consequences of each possible outcome, in dollars
- Appear in Dare County District Court for you where the court allows
- Explain to out-of-state drivers what North Carolina reports to their home state
- Handle tickets in Currituck County and Tyrrell County too
- Keep you updated by phone, text, and email
- Communicate in Spanish through our legal assistant, Kaitlyn Fernandez
Dare County Speeding Ticket FAQs
Where is court for a Dare County speeding ticket?
At the Dare County Justice Center, 962 Marshall Collins Drive, Manteo, NC 27954.
Can I just pay my Dare County speeding ticket?
For many tickets, yes. Paying is a conviction, so it adds DMV points and can raise your insurance. Find out what the conviction would cost before you pay.
I got a ticket on Hatteras Island. Is that Dare County?
Yes. Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras village are in Dare County. A ticket from a National Park Service ranger on the Seashore is a federal case, which we also handle. See federal charges.
What if I ignore the ticket?
Missing your court date can lead to a revocation of your North Carolina driving privilege under N.C.G.S. Section 20-24.1, and driving after that can bring a driving while license revoked charge.
Talk to Us Before You Pay
If you got a speeding ticket in Dare County, call or text 252-715-5785. We will explain what a conviction would cost you on your license and in insurance, and whether you need to come to court. Se habla español.
Please do not include confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail.
This page is general information about North Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation.