Can a DMV appointment get you out of a traffic ticket in NC? What state law says
If you’ve tried to book an appointment at any NC Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) location recently, you know how difficult it can be.
Unfortunately, booking an appointment doesn’t guarantee you’ll be seen, since an unexpected traffic stop could prevent you from arriving on time.
Could proof of a DMV appointment prevent you from getting a traffic citation? Here’s what law enforcement told The Charlotte Observer.
Can you get a warning in NC with proof of a DMV appointment?
Yes, Master Trooper Christopher Casey of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol told The Observer.
“It’s possible to get a warning ticket in a situation like this,” Casey said. “Our policy is to issue citations for clear-cut, substantial violations of the law. But factors like proof of an appointment could be taken into consideration.”
Casey explained that drivers stopped by highway patrol for minor infractions, such as traveling “eight or nine miles” over the speed limit or having expired tags, could receive warning tickets.
“Could you, by the letter of the law, be issued a citation for an expired tag? Yes,” said Casey. “But something of that nature can be issued a warning ticket, so that way you’ve been made aware and you can take care of it.”
When are traffic tickets issued in NC?
Casey also pointed out that drivers stopped for more serious violations, such as impaired driving, will receive citations or be arrested.
“You’re definitely going to be charged for a DWI,” Casey said. “As far as reckless driving, if it’s something bad enough where it warrants a reckless driving charge, you’re not going to be receiving a warning ticket.”
Here are some other common offenses you could receive a citation for, according to Charlotte-based law firm Browning & Long:
Speeding
Driving with a suspended or revoked license
Driving without a valid registration
Making an illegal U-turn
Running a red light or a stop sign
Violating North Carolina’s seat belt or child restraint laws
Failing to have required liability insurance
Failing to yield
Following too closely
Do warning tickets go on your driving record in NC?
No, Casey said.
According to JD Power, unlike a traffic citation, getting a warning ticket means:
You won’t get fined.
You won’t have to appear in court.
Your insurance rates won’t change.
You won’t get any points on your license.
“Some police departments give out warnings instead of issuing citations because they want people to know what they did wrong and correct their behavior in the future without having any negative consequences on their records,” the ratings and review website JD Power says.
Does law enforcement keep records of warning tickets in NC?
N.C. Highway Patrol does not keep records of warning tickets, Casey said.
But some law enforcement agencies around the country do keep track of warning tickets, the Florida-based news site ClickOrlando.com reported, and getting too many could lead to a traffic ticket the next time you get pulled over.
“If you get multiple warnings for the same offense within a certain period in the same jurisdiction, you could be issued an infraction or misdemeanor citation,” JD Power says. “So, even though a warning may not mean something serious initially, it could become a problem if you ignore it and don’t adjust your driving behavior accordingly.”
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Can a DMV appointment get you out of a traffic ticket in NC? What state law says."
