CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No one likes getting a traffic ticket, but what happens if you get pulled over and receive a citation in a different state?
One Verify viewer wanted to know how that would impact their North Carolina driving record.
THE QUESTION
How does getting a ticket in another state affect your driving record in North Carolina?
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, there are two different interstate agreements regarding this: the Drivers License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact. North Carolina is part of both.
The Drivers License Compact allows states to report motor vehicle-related convictions to one another.
"If you were to get a ticket in those states, they would report it to North Carolina, and then North Carolina would mirror a conviction in North Carolina," Casey said. "So if you get a speeding ticket in South Carolina, they report it to North Carolina and then that would go on your driving record."
Traffic tickets can add points to your driving record. If you accumulate enough points, your license could be suspended.
Meanwhile, the Non-Resident Violator Compact requires states to report to each other when a driver fails to appear in court or pay a fine associated with a citation issued in another state. Casey said this can play a role in whether you get a ticket or simply a warning during a traffic stop.
"When we stop individuals, especially out on the interstate, people are passing by," Casey said. "We do look at their driving record, and that can play into our enforcement, so it is good to look at those other states and see what their driving record looks like."
States involved in these agreements will send the information to North Carolina, which means state troopers can tell if you've received multiple tickets and where they happened. That's another reason Casey says it's important to know the rules of the road wherever you go and always follow the speed limit, because if you rack up a violation in another state, it can come back to haunt you at home in North Carolina.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.