Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog
Can a Traffic Ticket Impact Your Job?
Every year, law enforcement in North Carolina conducts more than a million traffic stops. These stops result in an average of about a half-million citations. Speeding tickets are the most common type of infraction. Others include improper lane change, failure to stop at a signal, and texting while driving, among others. If you have received a ticket for speeding or any other traffic infraction, you may wonder how a ticket could impact your employment.
Traffic Infractions Are Typically Not Criminal Offenses
Except in some limited conditions, traffic violations are not considered criminal offenses. Most traffic tickets are minor and are handled through the DMV rather than through the court system. Since traffic tickets are not criminal in nature, they are not part of your criminal record. This means that a simple traffic violation will not show up in a criminal background report. However, there are several infractions that are criminal misdemeanors or felonies, such as speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, eluding police, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license.
About Your Driving Record
The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains driving records for those with licenses in our state. If you pay a minor ticket, it will show up on your driving record. Your driving record is separate from a criminal record. Your driving record is used to oversee your driving privileges and is utilized by car insurance companies to determine rates. An employer may request your Motor Vehicle Report from the DMV, with your consent. A limited extract copy shows the last three years of your driving history, including traffic tickets, points, and license status.
Jobs That Require Driving
Your driving record, including traffic tickets, could impact your ability to get or keep a job if you work in the transportation industry. For example, a bus driver, delivery driver, truck driver, rideshare or taxi driver, and other jobs require employees to have a good driving record. If you are seeking a job in transportation or you are currently employed as a driver, your employer may utilize your driving record to determine employment eligibility.
As you can see, even a minor infraction could prove to be detrimental to your career. It is important to note that an employer must, by law, provide you with notice if they plan to deny you a job or fire you from a job due to your driving record. They must give you a copy of the report, and you can exercise your rights based on the particular circumstances of the action.
Should I Fight a Traffic Ticket?
In some cases, especially if you drive for a living, it may be beneficial to fight a traffic ticket.
To do so, you must not pay the fine by mail. Instead, choose to appear at a hearing for the matter. You will have the opportunity to present your case. It is often helpful to seek guidance from an attorney to represent your case in the matter. This may be advantageous to exercise your right to challenge a ticket. You may be able to get the matter resolved without any impact on your driving record.
Do you want to know your options for resolving a traffic ticket? Contact our legal team at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a consultation.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC represent individuals facing a wide range of state and federal criminal charges. Our practice includes traffic violations, DWI/DUI offenses, drug crimes, firearm and weapons charges, and gun permit denials.
We also defend clients accused of property crimes, including larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, and other white-collar offenses. Our attorneys handle cases involving sex-related offenses, such as indecent exposure, sexual assault, crimes against nature, and petitions for removal from the sex offender registry. In addition, we represent individuals charged with violent crimes, including domestic violence offenses, assault, manslaughter, homicide, and murder.
Beyond criminal charges, we assist clients with related legal matters such as restraining orders, probation violations, expungements, criminal appeals, and immigration issues arising from criminal allegations. We believe that informed clients are empowered clients, and we are committed to helping individuals understand their constitutional rights while providing aggressive and effective legal representation at every stage of the process.
Source:
https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/traffic-and-vehicles/traffic-violations
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/Pages/default.aspx
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