Trials are not held in administrative traffic court. If you desire a trial for a case originally scheduled for traffic court, you or your attorney will need to appear for you on your court date and request a trial date.
District Attorney Seth Edwards implemented traffic court in 2003 to better utilize our court resources. Our District Court Judges can focus on the more serious offenses such as Driving While Impaired if they are freed from handling cases that are usually administrative. In addition, law enforcement officers can utilize their time better if they are not tied up in court for lengthy periods on administrative matters.
ATTENTION MOTORIST
You have been issued a traffic citation for a motor vehicle offense that requires you to appear in court unless: a) you pay this citation in person/by mail, or b) you hire an attorney to represent you in your absence.
The citing officer has given you this notice to assist you in disposing of your charge(s). The court date listed on the front of your pink citation is an administrative date. THIS DATE IS NOT A TRIAL DATE. If you plan to contest your charge(s), you or your attorney will need to appear at the administrative court session and request a trial date. Your failure to appear at this court date may result in the revocation of your driver’s license or privilege, and the assessment of additional fees.
INSTRUCTIONS:
You may dispose of your charge(s) using one of the following options:
1 . PAY IN PERSON/BY MAIL: Only certain types of offenses can be paid in person/by mail, so please see the backside of your pink citation for further details; OR
2. HIRE AN ATTORNEY: You are encouraged to hire an attorney prior to your administrative court date, particularly if you have questions regarding the assessment of motor vehicle/insurance points. Your attorney may appear for you, and your presence will not be required; OR
3. APPEAR IN PERSON ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT DATE: You may appear in District Courtroom # 211 in the Beaufort County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m., to discuss your charge(s) with an Assistant District Attorney.
During the Administrative session, you may a) plead guilty or accept a reduced plea if offered to you; or 2) request a continuance; or 3) request a trial date. The District Attorney may dismiss certain violations if you have corrected the problem. If you do not dispose of your charge(s) on the administrative court date, your case(s) will be scheduled on the officer’s next regularly scheduled court date. Please keep in mind that any plea offer extended to you during an administrative session may not be offered at the trial session. PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR APPEAR AT THE OFFICES OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MAGISTRATE, OR CLERK OF COURT. Generally these offices will not discuss the merits of your ticket over the telephone or in person.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CONVICTION: The District Attorney cannot give you legal advice as to how a conviction for a traffic offense may affect your driver’s license or your automobile insurance. If you have questions in this regard, you should consult an attorney.
B. DRIVING SCHOOL: If you are charged with a speeding offense in excess of 17 miles per hour over the limit but no more than 25 miles per hour over, you may wish to attend a Driver Improvement Course at Beaufort County Community College, Martin County Community College, or other appropriate institution. If you have not attended a similar course within the last 3 years, the District Attorney will reduce your ticket to 9 miles over the limit upon completion of the course. You must bring written proof of completion with you to court. If you need time to complete the course, simply notify the District Attorney of this at your court appearance.
C. CONTINUANCES: The District Attorney does not accept continuances by telephone accept under extreme circumstances.
D. FAILURE TO APPEAR: If you fail to appear during your scheduled court date, you will have 20 days from that date to dispose of the matter. If you fail to do so within that time period, the Division of Motor Vehicles will suspend your license! You will also be assessed an additional fee of $100.00.
E. EXPIRED LICENSE/INSPECTION/REGISTRATION OR ACCIDENTS: If you are cited for an expired license, inspection or registration, bring your current license or copy of a valid inspection/registration. If your citation is a result of a motor vehicle accident, you may wish to bring a letter from your insurance company relating to their decision as to liability.
Administrative Traffic Court meets in courtroom 0211 of the Beaufort County Courthouse, usually on the first Monday of each month. This program has also been implemented in Martin and Tyrrell counties. This court is designed to quickly dispose of infractions and minor traffic offenses. If you qualify for this court, the officer that cites you for a traffic offense will give you a notice as set out below. You may wish to obtain a copy of your driving record to bring to court with you. A judge will be present during a session of traffic court, although officers are not required to appear. Traffic court normally begins at 8:30 am, and cases are handled on a first come, first serve basis (please note: regular district court normally begins at 9:30am).
