A Note To Florida Drivers Who've Been Charged With Speeding In Asheville, NC
Asheville NC’s Beauty, Culture, and mild weather draws transplants from all over the United States. Not to mention, millions of visitors each year. No state provides more visitors or transplants to Asheville than the sunshine, gator and orange state, Florida! Home of Mickey Mouse! Unfortunately, many Floridians are not at the happiest place on earth when they are dealing with Mr./Ms. State Highway Patrol!
I have a “Florida” preface to each phone conversation with Floridians when they call, particularly if they haven’t relocated to our area and learned the ropes completely yet. In Florida, when you’re caught speeding or for some other moving violation, the mighty “Ticket Clinic” firm is the household name many Floridians rely on. The service and economical cost that they have achieved for ticketed Floridians is truly impressive. Unfortunately, that framework does not exist in NC, and our court costs and fines are among the highest in the nation!
Base court costs for any negotiated ticket in NC is currently $191, no less. That also doesn’t include the fines that the local District will levy on top. When you get a reduction of speed, an Improper Equipment plea, etc., it will cost typically at least $191 to $300 to resolve the ticket. Furthermore, the Florida Ticket Clinic’s massive volume allows it charge attorney fees that are shockingly low. NC’s framework for handling tickets doesn’t allow for this type of convenient charge. In NC, all tickets, including infractions, are adjudicated in criminal district court. Sometimes this is set up as an administrative traffic court, sometimes it’s not.
The vast majority of our deals never go before a judge, as NC district attorneys have supreme discretion to reduce and dismiss these charges. We find ourselves in NC chasing assistant district attorneys daily , in order to get the best deal for our clients. The fees as a result of this framework, are routinely significantly more than what a Florida native might expect. At the end of the day, a typical deal with court cost and fines will run around $500, sometimes slightly more or less depending on the charge and the county.
If you’re from Florida, I have verified that the moving violations you receive here in NC can affect your insurance premiums negatively. Don’t make the mistake of paying the ticket because you think we’re taking you to the bank! Believe me, that is big business Insurance’s job!!! If you’ve been charged with speeding or other violations in Asheville, NC or surrounding areas, call an experienced Asheville Traffic Lawyer Now!