The Safe Driver Incentive Plan
North Carolina has a special law called the SDIP or Safe Driver Incentive Plan. What this law says is that if you have no moving violations on your record for the past three years, if you get ONE isolated speeding ticket for not more than 9 MPH over the limit, there will be no insurance points associated with that conviction. Now, just to be clear, you will see some license points, but don’t worry about these. In NC, license and insurance points are separate things. You can have license points for this one lonely speeding ticket every three years without ever seeing one single insurance point. Hey that’s great!
But what if I am pulled over for going more than 9 mph over the speed limit?
Now, if you get pulled for going even faster than 9 mph over the limit, there’s hope for you too! In all counties that I know of here in NC, the DA’s are all quite willing and ready to knock a few mph off your speed so that you can get the advantage of the SDIP. So if you’re cited for going faster, don’t despair! There’s help for you too! There may even be other options besides the reduction to 9 over that you can talk about with your traffic ticket lawyer. And BernieSez.com is a great place to find those lawyers! Give it a try. Click the button below to get started.
I just got a speeding ticket for 75 in a 55. I was shocked when I was pulled over & asked the officer what I did wrong. He said I was going 75 in a 55, I asked him if he was sure & of course he said Yes mam. I told him I normally have my cruise control set & even showed him the cruise light was still on.I must have forgotten to actually hit the set button on the cruise control & did not know I was speeding. I have not had a ticket since 1974 when I was 16. I have a son with disabilities & he depends on me to get places. I need to know what my options are to handle this as I have to appear in court since it was 20 miles over speed limit and I cannot loose my driving privileges because I have to work & my son depends on me.
Pamela:
Can you tell me some more? Where did this happen? What state and county?
It happened in Beaufort Co (Washington, NC)in North Carolina. The highway is 2 lanes both ways and I was in the slow lane (right lane)headed back to Martin Co.
Pam: I think you’ll be fine. In NC, you can get one speeding ticket for 9 over (and under 75) every three years and your insurance won’t even go up. The DA will (I’m sure) reduce your speed to 64/55 without any problem. No license revocation either. To do this, just go to court on your court date and after you check in, talk to the DA. He will offer you 9 over. Then go in front of the judge and plead responsible. Done. If he can offer you improper equipment (IE) instead, even better since that’s not a moving violation at all. Of course, butter him up and tell him about your special circumstances, it may help. If something weird happens and you can’t get the 9 over or the IE, ask for a continuance and regroup. You can probably find a lawyer to help you for $50-$100. I’m sure you’ll be getting a bunch of letters from lawyers too. If you want, post your case on BernieSez. It’s free and you can get more free advice that way. Good luck!
Thanks for your advice. The sad thing is my son was with me and we had just met a friend for lunch to celebrate the fact he had been 6 months without a seizure.I had promised my son to take him out to get a game and out to lunch. Then we were going home. I would never intentionally put his life at risk going that fast.
Happy to help!