Traffic violations in North Carolina are classified as infractions, misdemeanors or felonies.
Infractions
An infraction is a violation that is classified as a non-criminal act. The penalty for an infraction is usually a fine. These actions are against North Carolina’s laws, but they are not crimes. In most cases, when you commit an infraction, you will not receive a jail sentence. The maximum fine for an infraction is generally $100 and the administrative costs.
What Are Infractions in North Carolina?
Infractions include the following in North Carolina:
- Following too closely behind the vehicle in front of you
- Making improper turns, passes or backing up
- Failing to stop at a red light
- Failing to yield or stop
- Illegal U-turns
- Neglecting to signal before making a turn
- Violating the seat belt laws or child restraint laws
- Speeding less than 14 miles per hour over the speed limit
What Are Misdemeanors in North Carolina?
Misdemeanors are much more serious offenses than infractions, and they include the following:
- Window-tint violations
- Driving without valid insurance or registration
- Driving with a revoked or suspended license
- Reckless driving
- Speeding above 15 miles per hour over the speed limit
- Speeding over 80 miles per hour
Misdemeanors generally result in court appearances, jail sentences and suspension of your license. Misdemeanors also result in points on your driver’s license and insurance points.
Driver’s License Points
North Carolina follows the point system, and this point system can mean more than just court appearances, jail sentences and suspensions. It means that points may be added to your license when you commit misdemeanors or felonies. For example, if you have 12 or more points in three years, the state may suspend your license.
For example, being convicted of passing a stopped school bus results in 5 points, reckless driving gives you 4 points and failure to stop for a siren results in 3 points.
Insurance Points
Misdemeanor and felony traffic violations also result in drivers license points. Insurance points on your driving record can increase your insurance premiums by 25% to 340%.
Felonies
Traffic violations that will be charged as felonies include the following:
- Leaving the scene of a collision that resulted in severe bodily injury or death is a Class F felony. If the collision resulted in minor injuries, the violation will be listed as a Class H felony.
- A Class B2 felony is the classification for a repeat felony death.
- A Class D felony is the classification for an aggravated felony death by vehicle.
- A Class D felony is also the classification for death by vehicle.
- A Class E felony is the classification for an aggravated felony involving serious injury by vehicle.
- A Class F felony is the classification for serious injury by vehicle.
- Habitual impaired driving is also a Class F felony.
Penalties
- The penalty for a Class B2 felony is 10 to 26 years in prison. The maximum punishment is 40 years.
- The penalty for a Class D felony is 4 to 10 years in prison with a maximum penalty of 17 years.
- The penalty for a Class E felony is 2 to 4 years in prison with a maximum of 7 years.
- The penalty for a Class F felony is 1 to 3 years in prison with a maximum of 4 years.
- The penalty for a Class H felony is 5 to 20 months in prison with a maximum of 3 years.
If you are a habitual felon, wore a bullet-proof vest during your crime, committed the act as the leader of a gang or part of a gang or used a firearm during the act, the judge may sentence you to longer jail times than the ones listed above.