Meier Law Group PLLC

Q: If I hire Meier Law Group for a criminal or traffic matter, do I have to appear in court?

A: For minor traffic violations, including running a stop sign, most speeding charges, and driving without a license, you do not. Daniel Meier or Peter Johnston will appear in court for you. For more serious traffic matters, such as driving with a revoked license or driving while impaired, you typically need to be in court, except for your first appearance as explained below. For criminal matters, you do need to be in court, except for your first appearance as explained below.

We can continue your first appearance in District Court without you being present, regardless of the charge, if we have a notarized form called a Waiver of Counsel. When you speak with Meier Law Group, we will inform you if you need to be in court or not.

Q: How much are court costs and fines in traffic cases?

A: As of November 2011, court costs for traffic matters are $188 or $190, depending on the charge. There is an additional $50 court cost if we are able to reduce your charge to improper equipment. Fines typically range from $0 to $100, depending on the county and circumstances of your case.

If your case is dismissed, or you are acquitted at trial, you do not owe any court costs or fines.

Q: Will my traffic ticket affect my driver license and insurance rates?

A: It depends. If you are convicted of a moving violation, your insurance rates can increase for three years, and you will also receive points on your driver license. However, under North Carolina law, you can be convicted of speeding nine miles over the limit, and if you don’t have any other moving violations in the past three years, your insurance rates won’t increase.

If we are able to reduce your ticket to a non-moving violation, such as improper equipment, then there will be no impact on your driver license or insurance rates.

Q: What is a prayer for judgment (PJC)? Should I use one?

A: Typically used in traffic cases, a PJC is a way to prevent your traffic ticket from impacting your insurance rates and driver license. You are allowed one PJC per household every three years for insurance purposes and two PJCs per household every five years for DMV purposes. For example, if you get a PJC on a speeding ticket, and nobody in your household has used a PJC in the past three years, your insurance won’t increase, and you won’t get any points on your license. If someone in your household has used a PJC within the last three years and you also get a PJC, then that PJC will cause an insurance increase, but the DMV won’t consider it a conviction, meaning that you won’t be assessed points on your license or other more serious consequences that can result from a conviction, such as revocation of your driver license.

Usually PJCs are used as a last resort if we can’t reduce your charges enough to prevent them from impacting your driver license and insurance rates.

Q: I have previous traffic tickets that are causing my insurance to increase or preventing me from getting a job or driver license. Can you help?

A: Maybe. Depending on your driving record and the circumstances around the previous ticket(s), we may be able to re-open the old ticket and change the outcome to your benefit. Call Meier Law Group and we will discuss your situation with you.

Q: My license is revoked. Can you help me get it back?

A: Possibly. We can analyze your driving record and explain your options to you. In certain circumstances, you are eligible to get your license back or get a limited driving privilege. You may also be able to have a DMV hearing to apply for your license back. Give Meier Law Group a call and we’ll explain your options to you.