Key Takeaways
- It Is a North Carolina Secret: A PJC is a special rule only used in NC. It lets you plead guilty without getting punished with driver’s license points or insurance hikes.
- It Is Not a Free Pass: You still have to pay court costs, and the ticket stays on your record. It just stops the bad points from hitting you.
- The Rules Changed: A brand new law changed the “lookback period” from 3 years to 5 years. This makes using a PJC much trickier today.
- Save It for an Emergency: Do not waste your PJC on a tiny speeding ticket. Let an experienced lawyer get the ticket reduced first.
- We Are Here to Help: Huggins Law Firm knows the Guilford County courts. We fight to keep your insurance rates low and your record clean.
Hi there! My name is Attorney Micah Huggins. I am the founder of Huggins Law Firm, P.C.. We have been helping families in our community for over a decade. We are highly rated, and we have won multiple awards. But to me, the only thing that matters is keeping you safe and protecting your hard-earned money. We proudly represent the accused in Greensboro, Graham, Burlington, Asheboro, High Point, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem.
Our firm was built on a very simple slogan: Justice with Integrity. Representation with Heart. At Huggins Law Firm, we believe that great representation goes beyond knowing the law. It is about standing up for people when the stakes are high, when the odds are heavy, and when the 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 criminal defense, a Family Law matter, Estate Planning, or a Personal Injury case, 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 secret weapon in North Carolina traffic court. It is called a “Prayer for Judgment Continued,” or PJC. Every week, people ask me, “Micah, should I use a PJC for my speeding ticket?”
Let’s break down exactly what a PJC is, how it works, and when you should absolutely never use it.
So, What Exactly is a PJC in North Carolina?
In plain English, a PJC is a “get out of jail free” card for your insurance rates.
When you get a traffic ticket, you usually have to pay a fine. But the fine is not the worst part. The worst part is that the North Carolina DMV puts “points” on your driver’s license. Your car insurance company sees those points and raises your monthly bill.
If the judge gives you a Prayer for Judgment Continued, it means you admit you made a mistake. You say, “Yes, judge, I was speeding.” But instead of giving you a final guilty conviction, the judge pauses the case. They “continue” the judgment.
Because there is no final guilty judgment, the DMV does not give you any license points. Your insurance company cannot raise your rates. It is a huge relief!
Why Do Drivers in Greensboro and High Point Ask for a PJC?
Traffic tickets are incredibly common in our area. Let’s look at the real numbers.
According to recent data from the state, the Guilford County Court System is extremely busy. In one recent year, Guilford County had over 180,000 recorded court cases dealing with fees and fines. Tens of thousands of those were for traffic violations. Also, data shows there are around 8,800 car crashes in Greensboro every single year. The police are always on the roads looking for speeders.
If you get pulled over on Interstate 40 or driving through downtown High Point, your first thought is your wallet. A single speeding ticket can make your car insurance go up by 45% for the next three years. That can cost you thousands of dollars!
People ask for a PJC because they want to save money. They want to protect their right to drive to work without paying a fortune for insurance.
How Often Can You Use a PJC?
This is where people get confused. You cannot just use a PJC every time you get pulled over. The rules are very strict.
- For the DMV (Your License Points): The North Carolina DMV allows you to use two PJCs every five years. If you use a third one, the DMV will ignore it and give you the points anyway.
- For Your Insurance (Your Money): Your insurance company is even stricter. The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) rules state that insurance companies only allow ONE PJC per household every three to five years. Notice I said “household.” If your teenage son uses a PJC for running a red light, and then your wife gets a speeding ticket a year later, she cannot use a PJC to save her insurance rates. The whole family has to share one!
Important New 2025/2026 Rules for PJCs (The 5-Year Trap)
Here is a huge fact that very few people are talking about. The laws in North Carolina just got tougher.
Recently, the state extended the “lookback period” for some traffic and insurance rules from 3 years to 5 years. This means insurance companies look further back into your history to see if you have used a PJC.
If you waste your PJC now, you might be stuck without any protection for the next five years. With all the police speed traps in Asheboro and Kernersville, going five years without a ticket is very hard. This makes using a PJC a huge risk. You should only use it if you have no other choice.
When Can You Use a PJC? (The Good News)
A PJC is mostly used for minor traffic mistakes. The judge has the power to give you a PJC for things like:
- Speeding (if you are not going way over the limit)
- Running a stop sign or a red light
- Making an illegal turn
- Minor moving violations
It can also be used for some low-level misdemeanors. But the judge does not have to give it to you. A PJC is a gift. If you were rude to the police officer who pulled you over, the judge might just say “No.”
When is a PJC Not Allowed? (The Bad News)
The North Carolina law is very clear. There are some crimes that are so bad, a PJC is strictly forbidden. You can never get a PJC for:
- Driving While Impaired (DWI): If you are caught drunk driving, a PJC cannot save you. You need a strong DWI defense lawyer to fight the charge.
- Speeding More Than 25 MPH Over the Limit: If the speed limit is 55, and you are going 85, you cannot use a PJC.
- Passing a Stopped School Bus: The state takes children’s safety very seriously. No PJCs are allowed for this.
- Commercial Drivers (CDL): If you drive a big rig truck and have a CDL, you are out of luck. CDL drivers are not allowed to use PJCs for any traffic tickets, even if they were driving their personal car at the time!
Should You Use Your PJC on a Speeding Ticket?
Most of the time, the answer is NO!
This surprises a lot of people. When they get a ticket, they want to rush to the courthouse and ask for a PJC right away. That is a terrible idea.
A PJC should be your absolute last resort. It is your emergency parachute. If you use your parachute on a tiny jump, you will not have it when you really need it later.
Instead of burning your one PJC, you need a champion to fight for you. When you hire Huggins Law Firm, we talk to the District Attorney. We use strategy. Most of the time, we can get your speeding ticket reduced to a minor charge like “Improper Equipment.”
Improper Equipment is not a moving violation. It is like getting a ticket for a broken speedometer. It does not put points on your license, and it does not raise your insurance rates. And the best part? It saves your PJC for the future!
How Attorney Micah Huggins Can Help You Fight Back
Traffic court in Guilford County is a giant machine. When you walk into the courthouse, there are hundreds of people waiting. The prosecutors are moving fast. If you go alone, you might say the wrong thing and accidentally admit guilt without getting any protection.
Do not try to do this alone. At Huggins Law Firm, P.C., we know the local judges in Greensboro, High Point, Graham, and Winston-Salem. We know what they want to hear.
We do all the hard work for you. Most of the time, you do not even have to miss work to go to court. We go for you. We look at your driving record. We find the best way to keep your insurance rates low. We counsel with empathy, so you understand exactly what is happening every step of the way.
We also know that bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, a traffic ticket happens right before a bad car crash. Because our firm also handles Personal Injury cases, we know how to protect you if the ticket involves an accident.
If you got a ticket, do not just pay it online. Paying it online is a guilty plea, and your rates will go up! Let us help you.
10 of the Most Common Questions Asked About PJCs in NC
When people call our office, they are stressed and confused. Here are the top ten questions people ask us about Prayer for Judgment Continued, and the plain-English answers you need.
1. Do I still have to pay court costs if I get a PJC?
Yes. The PJC only stops the license points and insurance hikes. You still have to pay the standard North Carolina court costs, which are usually around $190.
2. Does a PJC wipe the ticket off my record?
No. The ticket does not disappear. It will still show up on your driving record. It will just have a note next to it saying “Prayer for Judgment Continued.” Employers and police can still see it.
3. Will a PJC save my job if I drive for a living?
It depends. If you have a regular driver’s license, a PJC might help you keep your job because you get no points. But if you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you cannot legally get a PJC.
4. Can I use a PJC if I live in another state?
You can ask the NC judge for a PJC, but your home state might not care. If you live in Virginia and get a PJC in North Carolina, the state of Virginia might just treat it as a regular guilty plea and raise your insurance anyway. Always ask a lawyer!
5. How do I know if anyone in my house used a PJC recently?
Insurance companies track PJCs by household. If you are not sure, you can pull your official NC driving record, or you can have our law firm pull the records for you and your family to check.
6. Can I get a PJC for a car crash?
Sometimes. If you get a ticket for “Failure to Reduce Speed” because you bumped into someone, the judge might grant a PJC. But if you are being sued for Personal Injury, you must be very careful about admitting guilt.
7. Does a judge have to grant my PJC?
Absolutely not. A PJC is entirely up to the judge’s mood and opinion. If your driving record is terrible, or if you were speeding in a school zone, the judge will probably say no.
8. Can I use a PJC for a criminal charge like shoplifting?
Yes, in some rare cases. A PJC can be used for low-level misdemeanors. However, it is very complicated and most employers still view a PJC for a crime as a guilty conviction.
9. What happens if I get another ticket after using a PJC?
If you used a PJC and then get another ticket a month later, you are in trouble. Your insurance will go up for the new ticket. If you try to use a second PJC, the insurance company will ignore it and raise your rates for both!
10. Why should I hire Huggins Law Firm instead of just asking for a PJC myself?
If you ask for a PJC yourself, you are using up your one lifeline. We can often get the ticket completely dismissed or reduced to “Improper Equipment” without ever touching your PJC. We save you money and protect your future.
Let Us Help You Protect Your Money and Your Record
A simple traffic ticket can turn into a huge financial burden if you do not handle it right. The system is tricky, and the rules are always changing.
But you do not have to fight the system alone.
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 driving record.
If you got a traffic ticket or are facing criminal charges 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.
