Traffic fines will go up on Dec. 1
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on November 27, 2005 2:10 AM
The cost of penalties for speeding and other traffic violations in North Carolina is going up Dec. 1.
Fines for most minor traffic offenses will be increased for those drivers who pay off the tickets instead of appearing in District Court. These drivers also will be taxed $110 in court costs, except those who pay off a seat-belt ticket, for which court costs are $75.
An official with the Wayne County Clerk of Courts Office said drivers still can go to District Court, plead guilty or not guilty and take their chances with a judge who could impose higher or lower fines.
The money raised from the fines is distributed to the local boards of education.
Here are the new speeding fines for those going less than 55, or more than 55 mph but less than 80 mph:
*Up to 5 mph over the limit, from no fine to $10.
*From 6-10 mph over the limit, from $10 to $15.
*From 11-15 mph over the limit, from $25 to $30.
Here are the increased fines for other speeding tickets:
*Exceeding a safe speed, from $25 to $35.
*Speeding in a school zone or school property, from $25 to $50.
*Driving too slowly, from $5 to $25.
*Failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, from $25 to $50.
Here are the increased fines for other traffic violations:
*Possession of an opened container of an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, from $10 to $25.
*Driving the wrong way on a dual-lane highway, from $25 to $50.
*Driving left of center, from $10 to $25.
*Improper passing, with exceptions, from $25 to $50.
*Following too closely, from $25 to $35.
*Yield violation, from $25 to $35.
*Failure to yield to emergency vehicles, with exceptions, from $25 to $50.
*Stoplight or stop-sign violation, from $25 to $50.
*Driving the wrong way on a one-way street, from $25 to $50.
*Failure to remove from the road a vehicle involved in a collision, from $10 to $25.
*Inspection violation, from no fine to $25.
*Parking violation, except handicapped parking, from no fine to $25.
*Height, width and length violations, from $10 to $25.