Key Takeaways
- Over 80 MPH is Not a Normal Ticket: In North Carolina, driving over 80 mph (or 15 mph over the speed limit) is a Class 3 Misdemeanor. It is a real crime, not just a traffic rule.
- Paying Online Means You Plead Guilty: If you log online and pay the fine, you are telling the judge “I am guilty.”
- Automatic License Suspension: If you plead guilty to speeding over 80 mph, the North Carolina DMV will automatically suspend your driver’s license for at least 30 days. You will not be allowed to drive.
- Insurance Rates Will Skyrocket: A high-speed conviction puts massive points on your license and your insurance. Your rates can go up by hundreds of dollars a year.
- We Can Help You Fight: At Huggins Law Firm, we know the local prosecutors. We can often get high-speed tickets reduced so you keep your license and your money.
Hi there! My name is Attorney Micah Huggins. I am the founder of Huggins Law Firm, P.C.. For over a decade, we have been helping everyday folks just like you. We are highly rated and have won multiple awards. But to me, the only thing that truly matters is protecting your family, your money, and your freedom. We proudly represent the accused in Greensboro, Graham, Burlington, Asheboro, High Point, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem.
Our firm was built on a simple, powerful slogan: Justice with Integrity. Representation with Heart. At Huggins Law Firm, we believe that great representation goes beyond just knowing the law. It is about standing up for people when the stakes are high, when the odds are heavy, and when the court system feels totally overwhelming.
Founded by me, Attorney Micah E. Huggins, the firm was built on a simple conviction: every single client deserves clarity, compassion, and a champion in their corner. Whether you need help with a criminal defense case, a Family Law matter, Estate Planning, or a Personal Injury claim, we bring the exact same level of preparation, precision, and purpose to every case we handle.
We do not just file motions or show up in court. We fight with strategy, we counsel with empathy, and we work to restore what has been lost — your dignity, your stability, or your peace of mind.
Today, we are talking about a massive trap that catches thousands of drivers every year. It is the trap of the “80 mph speeding ticket.” Let’s break down exactly why you should never, ever just pay a high-speed ticket in North Carolina.
What Are the Laws for Speeding Over 80 MPH in NC?
A lot of folks think a speeding ticket is just a piece of paper. You pay a little money, and it goes away, right?
Wrong. In North Carolina, speed matters.
Under North Carolina law (G.S. 20-16.1), if you are caught driving more than 80 mph in a 70 mph zone, or if you are caught driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit while going faster than 55 mph, you are in serious trouble.
These high speeds are not handled as simple traffic fractions. They are charged as Class 3 Misdemeanors. This means it is a criminal charge. If you get convicted, it actually goes on your criminal record.
But the criminal record is not the scariest part. The scariest part is what happens to your right to drive.
Why Does Paying a Speeding Ticket Online Suspend Your License?
This is the number one secret the state does not tell you when they hand you the ticket.
When you look at the back of your traffic ticket, it will usually give you a website where you can go to pay your fine with a credit card. It looks so easy. You think, I will just pay this $250 fine and move on with my life.
But here is the trap: Paying a ticket online is exactly the same as walking into a courtroom, looking the judge in the eye, and saying, “I plead guilty.”
When you plead guilty to speeding over 80 mph, the clerk of court sends an alert to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Under state law, the DMV is required to automatically suspend your driver’s license.
They will not ask you if you need to drive to work. They will not care if you have kids to pick up from school. For a first offense, your license is instantly suspended for 30 days. If you have had other speeding tickets recently, your license could be suspended for 60 days, 6 months, or even an entire year.
How Big is the Traffic Ticket Problem in Guilford County?
Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 run right through the heart of Greensboro and High Point. Thousands of out-of-state drivers and local residents travel these highways every single day. Because there is so much traffic, the local police and state troopers write an incredible amount of tickets.
I want to share some crazy statistics with you that very few people are talking about.
The Guilford County Court System is overflowing with cases. In a recent data report, Guilford County had over 180,000 recorded court cases dealing with fees and fines. And here is a shocking fact: in Guilford County alone, there are over 44,000 traffic violation cases in a “Failure to Comply” status.
What does “Failure to Comply” mean? It means a person either forgot about their court date or could not afford to pay their fines. When that happens, their license is suspended. Thousands of people in our area are driving right now with a suspended license just because they did not know how to handle a traffic ticket properly!
What Happens to Your Insurance If You Speed Over 80 MPH?
Let’s say you do not care about a 30-day suspension. Let’s say you work from home. Is it still bad to just pay the ticket?
Yes, because of your money.
North Carolina uses an “insurance point” system. It is very strict. If you plead guilty to speeding over 80 mph, your car insurance company is legally allowed to add points to your policy. A major speeding conviction can add 4 insurance points.
In North Carolina, 4 insurance points equals a 80% increase in your car insurance rates. That rate hike lasts for three full years.
If you are paying $100 a month for insurance right now, it will jump to $180 a month. Over three years, that tiny speeding ticket will cost you almost $3,000 in extra insurance bills! It is much cheaper to hire a good lawyer to fight the ticket.
Can the Judge Grant a “Prayer for Judgment” (PJC)?
Some people think they can just walk into court and ask the judge for a “Prayer for Judgment Continued” (PJC) to magically fix a high-speed ticket.
A PJC is a special North Carolina rule that stops insurance points and license points. But there is a catch.
Judges are not allowed to give you a PJC if you were driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit. And even if you were only going 16 mph over, many judges in Greensboro and High Point are very strict. They might just say “No” if you ask for a PJC without a good reason.
Also, you can only use a PJC once every three years per household for insurance purposes. You should never waste it on a ticket you can beat another way.
How Attorney Micah Huggins Fights High-Speed Tickets
When you hire Huggins Law Firm, P.C., we take the weight off your shoulders. We handle the stressful court system so you do not have to.
Here is our strategy to keep you driving:
1. We Go to Court For You
In most traffic cases, if you hire a lawyer, you do not even have to go to court. We go and stand in front of the judge for you. You can go to work and live your normal life while we fight the battle.
2. We Talk to the Prosecutor
Guilford County has “secret” local guidelines that the District Attorney uses to handle speeding tickets. We know those guidelines. We take your clean driving record to the prosecutor and ask for a deal.
3. We Reduce the Charge to “Improper Equipment”
Our number one goal is to get your high-speed ticket reduced to a non-moving violation, like “Improper Equipment.” Improper Equipment means your car had a broken speedometer. It carries zero license points and zero insurance points. It will not suspend your license!
4. We Reduce the Speed
If the prosecutor will not agree to Improper Equipment, we fight to get the speed reduced to just 9 mph over the limit. Why? Because in North Carolina, speeding 9 mph or less over the limit usually does not increase your insurance rates.
Do Not Let the System Bully You
The state wants you to log online, pay your fine, and plead guilty. It is easy money for them. But it ruins your life.
At Huggins Law Firm, we believe you deserve better. We counsel with empathy. We want to protect your paycheck from crazy insurance rates, and we want to protect your right to drive your family safely.
10 of the Most Common Questions Asked About Speeding Tickets in NC
When our phones ring, people are usually very worried about their speeding tickets. Here are the top ten questions we get asked, and the simple answers you need.
1. Will I go to jail for speeding over 80 mph in NC?
It is very rare to go to jail just for speeding, even though it is a misdemeanor. However, if you were speeding and driving recklessly, or if you ran from the police, jail time is absolutely a possibility.
2. Do out-of-state drivers lose their license for a North Carolina ticket?
Yes! The North Carolina DMV reports serious speeding convictions to other states. If you live in Virginia and get an 85 mph ticket in Greensboro, Virginia will often suspend your home driver’s license.
3. Can I take a driving class to get my ticket dismissed?
Sometimes. North Carolina offers driving clinics. If your driving record is not perfect, we can sometimes negotiate with the prosecutor to have your ticket reduced if you complete an approved safe driving class.
4. What happens if I miss my court date for a speeding ticket?
This is bad. The judge will issue a “Failure to Appear” (FTA). The DMV will quickly suspend your driver’s license. Also, you will be hit with an extra $200 late fee by the court. We can help reopen old cases to fix this.
5. Can a police officer pull me over if they did not use a radar gun?
Yes. Police officers are trained to estimate speed visually. If an officer testifies in court that it looked like you were going way too fast, the judge can legally find you guilty based just on the officer’s eyes.
6. Will a speeding ticket ruin my Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)?
Yes, CDL drivers are held to a much higher standard. A ticket for going 15 mph over the limit is considered a “serious traffic violation.” If you get two of these, you will lose your CDL and your job. You cannot use a PJC if you have a CDL.
7. Does the color of my car make me more likely to get pulled over?
While some people joke about “arrest-me red” cars, the radar gun does not care about color. Police pull over cars that are moving faster than the flow of traffic.
8. How long do points stay on my North Carolina driver’s license?
Driver’s license points stay on your record for exactly three years from the date of your conviction (the day you pay the ticket or plead guilty).
9. Can I just represent myself in traffic court?
You can, but it is risky. The prosecutor does not work for you. They will not offer you the best deal because you do not know the local laws. A lawyer knows exactly what to say to get the ticket reduced.
10. How much does a traffic lawyer cost?
Hiring a traffic lawyer is usually much cheaper than paying the insurance increases! At Huggins Law Firm, we are always honest about our prices. We charge a flat fee for most traffic tickets so there are no surprises.
Protect Your Freedom and Your Wallet
A speeding ticket is not just a piece of paper. It is a threat to your driving privileges and your bank account. Do not try to fight the system alone, and definitely do not just pay the ticket online!
At Huggins Law Firm, P.C., we stand ready to defend you. We will listen to your story, explain your options clearly, and work tirelessly to protect your record.
If you got a speeding ticket in Greensboro, High Point, Graham, Burlington, Asheboro, Kernersville, or Winston-Salem, reach out to us today.
Visit our home page to learn more about how we can help you. Justice with Integrity. Representation with Heart. We are in your corner. Let’s start building your defense today.
