If You See Blue,
Call DONAHUE
Call DONAHUE
Tyrrell County Speeding Ticket Lawyer (Columbia, NC)
Speeding Ticket on US 64 in Tyrrell County?
A Tyrrell County speeding ticket is decided in Tyrrell County District Court in Columbia, and paying it counts as a conviction. US 64, the main route between Raleigh and the Outer Banks, runs straight through Tyrrell County, so many of these tickets land on drivers heading to or from the beach.
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. He handles DWI, traffic, and criminal cases in Dare and Currituck County, and speeding tickets in Tyrrell County.
Got a speeding ticket in Tyrrell County? 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.
What a Speeding Ticket Can Cost You
A speeding conviction is counted 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. How fast you were going decides both.
| 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 |
Speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, or over 80 mph, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under N.C.G.S. Section 20-141. 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. For more on insurance, see NC insurance points after a conviction.
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.
Paying the Ticket Is a Conviction
Some speeding tickets can be paid without going to court. Paying is a plea of guilty or responsible, and it locks in the points and insurance surcharge that come with the conviction. Talk to a lawyer before you pay.
Driving Through From Another State?
Many drivers ticketed on US 64 live in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other states. A North Carolina conviction can be reported to your home state, and each state applies its own law to it. See out-of-state tickets for links to what several states publish, and check with your state’s licensing agency or a lawyer licensed there about your license.
Do I Have to Go to Court in Columbia?
Often not. For many speeding tickets, your lawyer can appear for you so you do not have to make the trip. 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 Tyrrell County District Court for you where the court allows
- Explain what North Carolina reports to your home state if you are licensed elsewhere
- Keep you updated by phone, text, and email
- Communicate in Spanish through our legal assistant, Kaitlyn Fernandez
Tyrrell County Speeding Ticket FAQs
Can I just pay my Tyrrell County speeding ticket online?
You may be able to, depending on the charge. Paying is a conviction, so it adds DMV points and can raise your insurance. Learn what the conviction would cost before you pay.
Will a speeding ticket raise my insurance?
It depends on how fast you were going and your record. A ticket for 10 mph or less over the limit usually adds no insurance points if you have no other moving violation in the past five years. Higher speeds bring a 55% or 90% increase for three years for drivers insured in North Carolina.
Can a speeding ticket suspend my license?
Yes, in some cases. DMV can suspend your license for speeding more than 75 mph where the limit is under 70 mph, more than 80 mph where the limit is 70 mph, or for two speeding convictions over 55 mph within 12 months.
Do you handle other charges in Tyrrell County?
No. Our Tyrrell County practice is limited to speeding tickets. For DWI, reckless driving, and criminal charges, we practice in Dare and Currituck County.
Talk to Us Before You Pay
If you got a speeding ticket in Tyrrell 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.