Depending on the severity of the offense, a traffic violation in North Carolina can be classified as either an infraction or a crime. Learning to read your traffic ticket can help you guess potential penalties and what steps you have to take next.
How to know the difference?
In North Carolina, one of the easiest ways to know if your traffic violation constitutes a crime is to check the traffic ticket. In it, you will find a case number (alphanumeric code) that starts with two numbers representing the year the violation occurred (for example, “26” for 2026). Immediately following these two numbers, you will find either IF or CR:
- IF stands for Infraction (a civil, non-criminal violation).
- CR stands for criminal offense (a misdemeanor or felony charge).
In some cases, you may not find the case number. In that situation, you can check the alleged statute violation mentioned in the ticket with the help of an attorney to determine the severity of the offense.
Infraction v. criminal offense
Traffic infractions typically do not carry jail time, though the court may require you to pay a fine. Conversely, if the traffic violation constitutes a crime, you could face both a fine and jail time. If the court classifies the offense as a felony, your jail term can extend to more than one year.
What are the implications of a criminal offense?
Clearing a traffic ticket that has a criminal offense could be a challenging task. Beyond immediate penalties like hefty fines or incarceration, a criminal conviction can leave you with a permanent criminal record, driving privilege suspensions and significantly higher insurance rates. With the help of an attorney experienced in criminal law, you may be able to appeal to the court and challenge the charges.
