Services
Legal Representation Services
William Jennetta, along with his team, provides effective legal representation in the central and eastern portions of North Carolina.
We provide you with comprehensive legal assistance in many areas.
- Auto accidents
- Civil litigation
- Debt Collection/Consumer Debt
- Contracts
- Criminal defense
- Divorce
- DUI/DWI
- Powers of attorney
- Speeding tickets
- Traffic tickets
- Criminal Defense
- Misdemeanors, Felonies
Do you have pending or unresolved speeding or other traffic tickets/citation from Halifax or another county? I can help - especially if you live some distance from the courthouse. I regularly assist local and out-of-state clients with North Carolina traffic tickets. But regardless of where you reside, if you hire me, you will get my best effort in trying to achieve a resolution of your traffic case which results in the least negative consequences in terms if license points, insurance points, driving privilege, driving record, and record of convictions.
All but a very small number of states exchange information concerning traffic violations via the Driver License Compact. So even if you are not licensed in North Carolina, if you ignore your North Carolina traffic ticket, you will be running a very high risk of future consequences.
If you don't come to court or hire an attorney to appear on your behalf when your case is called, your case will likely be marked with a failure to appear (FTA), and there may also be an order for arrest (OFA) issued. Typically, when the FTA is reported to the North Carolina DMV, your North Carolina driving privilege is likely to be suspended.
This status is then reported to your home state, which in turn is likely to suspend your home state driving privilege. When this happens, at a minimum you almost certainly will not be able to renew your driver's license at the appropriate time until you dispose of the pending North Carolina charge. If you find yourself facing a situation such as this, please consider contacting me to discuss your case.
Typically, the best outcome for a speeding or traffic ticket will be to have the charge(s) dismissed. This is an outcome that can be achieved on occasion depending on the circumstances of the traffic stop and the nature of the charge. When you have multiple charges, your attorney may be able to negotiate a plea with a district attorney resulting in guilty/responsible for one (or some) of the charges in exchange for a dismissal of one or some of the other charge(s).
Typically, the next preferred outcome after a dismissal is a reduction in the traffic charge(s). Your attorney can typically negotiate a reduction in your charge(s) with a district attorney in exchange for entering a plea of guilty/responsible for the reduced charge. When this happens, a non-moving violation is usually preferred, as it is not likely to result in any license or insurance points.
Whether a reduction to a non-moving violation is an option typically depends on the nature of your charge(s). If a non-moving violation cannot be agreed to by a district attorney, then the next best is a reduction and plea to a charge which carries the least negative consequences as described above. Often with a speeding ticket, this means that your attorney enters a plea of guilty to a speed violation which is a lesser violation than that with which you were actually charged.
Federal Constitutional Rights Relevant to Criminal Defense
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.