Polk County
Polk County. Columbus, NC Criminal and Traffic Court
The Curtis Sluder Law Firm has been practicing Traffic and Criminal law in POLK County North Carolina since 1998. If you have received a traffic citation recently or have been charged with a criminal law matter, we would like to help you. Our experienced traffic lawyers would like to help protect your license, defend you in court, and save you time, money, and stress.
I grew up in this area, and have built the largest criminal and traffic practice in Western North Carolina. My Associates Vijay Nathan and Eric Johnson served as an Assistant District Attorney and an Assistant Public Defender respectively prior to joining my office. Together, we have represented drivers from all 50 states and several foreign countries.
Since I started my law practice in 1998, over ten thousand motorists have used my services; I have saved tens of thousands of insurance dollars, year after year. On a regular basis, Judges, prosecutors, and other attorneys ask me questions about traffic law. I have presented continuing education classes to other attorneys on the subject of traffic law and saving license points and insurance costs. I have extensive experience and knowledge of traffic law, CDL issues, driver license issues, and I hope you will let me put my experience, knowledge, and dedication to work for you.
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PAY YOUR TICKET
On the back of your citation, there may be instructions for how to pay your ticket online or through the mail. DONT PAY IT until you read further.
Paying the ticket means you are pleading guilty (or responsible) to the charge, as the ticket is written. Your conviction is then electronically submitted to the North Carolina DMV. The NC DMV enters the conviction on your driving record (Out of state drivers, see below) and that entry is used by your insurance provider at each renewal period to assess your rate.
If your ticket does not have a total amount and instructions for paying the ticket, that means your ticket is not “Payable” and you would need to appear in court or hire our lawyers to appear on your behalf. This also is a good indication that your speed was great enough to cause your license to be suspended. Speeding over 55 and more than 15 over the limit can result in license revocation. That could be as little as a ticket for 56 in a 40 zone. 71 in a 55 zone, or under a different law, 80-65 zone. Pleading guilty as charged to any of those speeds could cause a suspension in NC, even with a perfect driving record.
LICENSE POINTS AND REVOCATION: NC law can be very harsh when it comes to otherwise minor traffic matters. There are over 70 ways to lose your privilege to drive in this state. Please do not assume that your minor ticket will not have serious consequences. If you are an out of state driver, please be aware that NC is a member of both the Driver License Compact (DLC) and the Non-Resident Violators Compact (NRVC). These are agreements among the states to report traffic violations and suspensions to each other. NC Convictions follow drivers home
POINTS: Insurance points or license points?
There are two separate points systems in North Carolina- Driver license points and insurance points. A non-commercial NC driver can accumulate as many as 12 license points in a 3 year period without being revoked for the first time. Speeding over 55 carries 3 DL points. Speeding under 55 carries 2 DL points. Other common charges and the associated drivers license points are set out below.
Other States have a similar points system, some allowing the accumulation of a certain number of points, or a reverse system where you are given a number of points, and they are then deducted for each violation.
There are ways to get points off ones record, and we routinely do this for our clients in danger of losing their license.
Insurance points are assessed based on a similar, but distinct points system. The number of insurance points one has determines how much your insurance company is allowed to raise your rates. This system is known as the
SAFE DRIVER INCENTIVE PLAN(SDIP)
The number of insurance points determines the percentage your insurance can increase. For example, the average annual insurance rate in the US is $1,592 per year, according to NerdWallet’s 2021 rate analysis.
One insurance point can raise your rate 30%. 30% of $1592 is $477.60. And this increase continues for 3 years, for a total increase of $1432.80.
2 points – increase up to 45%
3 points – increase up to 60%
4 points – increase up to 80%.
An example of a 1 point violation is
Speeding 10 mph or less over a speed limit under 55 mph.
An example is 59 in a 50 zone (Less than 10 over, in a speed zone less than 55)
An example of a 2 point violation is
Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit at a total speed of more than 55 mph and less than 76 mph.
Example: 56 in a 45 zone. 66 in a 55 zone. 75 in a 60 zone.
Speeding 10 mph or less over the speed limit in a speed zone of 55 mph or higher.
Example: 56 to 64 mph in a 55 mph zone. (Less than 10 over, but still in a 55 or higher zone. )
Using the same average insurance rate from above, 45% of $1592 is $716. multiplied by three years, your rate increases $2148 from one minor ticket.
Higher speeds can result in even greater increases. For example, 4 insurance points are assessed for
Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph.
Example- 76 or more in a 65 zone. 71 or more in a 60 zone. 66 or more in a 55 zone.
Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or higher.
Example- 81 or more in a 70 zone
4 insurance points results in an increase of 80%. 80% of $1592 is $1273.60. Each year for three years- $3820.80 increase total.
Examples of common charges and their corresponding point and rate increase are set out below.
1 point- 30% rate increase
All other moving violations.
Speeding 10 mph or less over a speed limit under 55 mph.
At-fault accident resulting in bodily injury (to all persons) of $1,800 or less; OR resulting in property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) of $1,850 or less. Accidents that occur on or after October 1, 2017, resulting in total property damage (including the insured’s own) of $2,300 or less.
No Insurance Points will apply for bodily injury if medical costs were incurred solely for diagnostic purposes.
2 points- 45% rate increase
Illegal passing.
Following too closely.
Driving on wrong side of the road.
At-fault accidents that occur on or after March 1, 2016 and prior to October 1, 2017, resulting in total property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) over $1,850 but under $3,085. Accidents that occur on or after October 1, 2017, resulting in total property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) over $2,300 but less than $3,850.
Speeding more than 10 mph over the speed limit at a total speed of more than 55 mph and less than 76 mph.
Speeding 10 mph or less over the speed limit in a speed zone of 55 mph or higher.
3 points- 60% rate increase
At-fault accident resulting in death or total bodily injury (to all persons) of more than $1,800; OR resulting in total property damage (including damage to insured’s own property) of $3,085 or more. Accidents that occur on or after October 1, 2017, that result in total damage to all property, (including the insured’s own), of $3,850 or more.
No Insurance Points will apply for bodily injury if the medical costs were incurred solely for diagnostic purposes
4 points- 80% rate increase
Reckless driving.
Hit-and-run resulting in property damage only.
Passing a stopped school bus.
Speeding in excess of 75 mph when the speed limit is less than 70 mph.
Speeding in excess of 80 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph or higher.
Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs.
8 points- 195% rate increase
Driving during revocation or suspension of license or registration.
Aggressive driving.
10 points- 260% rate increase
Highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for highway racing.
Speeding to elude arrest.
12 points- 340% rate increase
Manslaughter or negligent homicide.
Prearranged highway racing or knowingly lending a motor vehicle for prearranged highway racing.
Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury or death.
Driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or more.
Driving commercial vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of .04 or more.
Driving while impaired.
Transporting illegal intoxicating liquor for sale.
The Curtis Sluder Law Firm.
Our lawyers in Polk County, Columbus NC have been practicing Traffic, DWI, and Criminal Law since 1998. Hire experienced attorneys
Polk County NC Traffic Lawyer
We have saved drivers millions in potential insurance increases since 1998. Tens of thousands of satisfied clients. Don’t pay your ticket until you speak to us.
Criminal Defense Attorney
Criminal, Traffic, and DWI representation in Columbus, Saluda, Tryon, Mill Spring, Green River, Lake Adger. Drug Felonies, Misdemeanors, property crimes, assaults. Aggressive Criminal defense, fighting for your rights.
Aggressive Impaired Driving (DWI DUI) Lawyers
For more than 20 years, we fight for the best possible outcome at every juncture in your DWI case, leaving no stone unturned. In fact, our attorneys are regularly questioned by others on DWI and Traffic law. Experience counts.
Columbus, Polk County NC Criminal and Traffic Ticket Defenders
Experienced lawyers to defend your DWI / Impaired Driving in Polk County
Polk County Criminal and Traffic Defense: Courthouse Square, Columbus, North Carolina
Polk County is in the 29-B Judicial District of North Carolina, and the 42nd prosecutorial district. The 29-B District encompasses Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties. This is a large district, but we deal with the same group of judges and district attorneys in each county on a regular basis. Since our attorneys only practice criminal, traffic, and DWI law, we are usually in court whenever there IS court.
The Clerk of Superior Court is Pamela (Pam) Green Hyder. A visit in the office of the clerk, or a trip to the courtroom you might also meet Jamie, Sheila, Kimberly, Linda, Amanda, Or Bob. The court personnel, Clerks of Court, and other officials in the district can be very helpful and informative, but they cannot give legal advice. If you have questions for them, please be nice, and they will be nice back to you, and as helpful as they are allowed to be. If you have specific legal questions, however, you will have to speak to an attorney.
The elected District Attorney, R. Andrew Murray, was appointed by the Governor in 2021 replacing Greg Newman, who had replaced former District Attorney Jeff Hunt, when he was selected as a Special Superior Court judge. Andrew has demonstrated to me his ability to be a fair and reasonable District Attorney-and that is the highest accolade any District Attorney can receive from a defense attorney! In my experience he has been able to maintain a balance between protecting the citizens in the district by prosecuting crime, and has followed the District Attorney’s oath to “do justice”. Prior to prosecuting here in District 42, Mr. Murray was a US Attorney for the Western Disrict of NC, and before that he was elected DA in Charlotte/Mecklinburg County. I have enjoyed working with him on cases thus far, and look forward to working with him and his very capable and kind assistants in future years.
Criminal court in Polk County may be held on any day of the week, but district court criminal cases are generally calendared on certain days. Wednesday, and one Monday each month, are usually reserved for officer court dates- Highway Patrol, Columbus Police, Tryon Police, Saluda Police, Wildlife Officers, and Polk County Sheriff Deputies all schedule certain days that they are expected to be in court to discuss and be available for the cases they are involved in. They can often be called in or subpoenaed for other days, as well. In addition to cases originated by law enforcement officers, civilian witness cases such as injury to personal property, assault, assault on a female, domestic trespass, and similar cases sworn out in front of a magistrate are also heard. Occasionally, on these Monday and Wednesday court dates, felony matters that are still in district court, pending probable cause hearings or first appearances are also heard.
Traffic Court is usually held on a Monday or Thursday morning in Polk County. There are usually several hundred cases on these days, speeding tickets, fail to stop, failure to yield, reckless driving, hit and run, designated lane violations and other common traffic charges. Individuals who represent themselves can come expecting to spend quite a while in line waiting to hopefully handle their cases. Getting the best result requires knowing the district attorneys policies and coming to court properly prepared. We plan to spend our whole day, or as much as needed, handling traffic cases on these days, and we can usually appear in court for you.
The Curtis Sluder Law Firm frequently handles cases in all three counties of District 29-B- Transylvania, Henderson, and Polk counties. Some of the cases we regularly represent defendants on are traffic and criminal matters, such as speeding, reckless driving, DWI, and driving on revoked licenses. We also represent many defendants on other felony and misdemeanor offenses, such as drug charges, probation violations, expunction, assaults, weapons charges, and related criminal offenses. The Curtis Sluder Law Firm has focused on traffic defense and criminal law in Polk County for more than 20 years, and was the first law firm in Western North Carolina to have a dedicated traffic practice. We has defended tens of thousands of cases involving criminal offenses, traffic charges, and other infractions occurring in Western North Carolina, including Columbus, Tryon, Mill Spring, Saluda and all of Polk County since 1998. Contact us to discuss your case. We offer free initial consultation by telephone or Email. Please call or Email us to see how we can help protect your interests and defend your rights.
DWI/Impaired Driving in Polk County
Almost no case is taken as seriously as Impaired driving in North Carolina. Most persons charged with serious felony charges in North Carolina have far more options available to them than persons charged with DWI. Even if you have no record at all. This is simply a result of the overly aggressive DWI lobby led in North Carolina by MADD, continually pressuring the legislature to enact stricter penalties for Impaired Driving. Since 2007, each session of the legislature has enacted some form of new legislation making DWI a more serious crime and chiseling away at the Constitutional Rights of the defendant. If you are charged with DWI, you need an experienced, informed, aggressive attorney on your side.
Even though I expect the district attorneys office in Polk County to be fair and reasonable, the very political nature of DWI makes it a difficult charge to defend. DWI in North Carolina does not get “pleabargained” to lesser offenses. North Carolina Law requires the district attorney to prepare a lengthy written explanation for any change to, or dismissal of, any “implied consent” (alcohol- related) charge. This long written form is then filed as a public document that the “courtwatchers” have access to and keep tabs on. Of course, this means that as a practical matter no elected official is going to make any modification or dismissal of a DWI charge except in the most rare circumstance. Therefore, when you are charged with a DWI, you can expect that the case is going to proceed “as charged”. You will either be found guilty, or not guilty, of what you are charged with.
At the Curtis Sluder Law Firm, we aggressively look for any error made by law enforcement, magistrates, or other individuals involved in your case. We start by critically examining the reason you were stopped based on the most current legislation and case law. The officer must have made initial contact either through a consensual encounter, reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop, or a properly conducted license check. If the contact phase passes scrutiny, we explore all known factors that may or may not have given the officer probably cause to make an arrest. This includes proper field sobriety tests given according to standards established by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Other factors the officer considered in forming his opinion of your condition and decision to arrest are also explored in depth.
Once the decision to arrest has been made, the information that may have been presented to the magistrate is reviewed, rights forms are examined to be certain you were afforded your rights prior to an intoxilizer test. Procedures must have been followed in administering the test, and certain legal requirements must be met in allowing for your release from custody after your arrest and initial appearance before the magistrate has been completed.
There are hundreds of possibilities to explore in every DWI case- and this is just the guilt or innocence aspect of the case. Drivers license implications, DMV penalties, sentencing requirements, and costs also factor into each case. At the Curtis Sluder Law Firm, we have the experience garnered from daily representation of defendants for over 15 years, as well as experience from prosecuting cases for the State. We strive to master new laws and follow the appellate courts decisions as they relate to criminal, traffic, and impaired driving cases on a regular basis. We involve ourselves in routine Q&A sessions with other top attorneys across North Carolina on a regular basis to stay on top of the latest developments. We continue to build on our experience with DMV, law enforcement, the District Attorneys Office, our Honorable Judges, Magistrates, fellow attorneys, clerks, and other court officials and liasons to make our clients experiences as successful as possible.
Traffic Cases in Polk County
Traffic cases in Polk County are usually scheduled for one Monday and one Thursday each month, or on the Wednesday sessions of Criminal District Court. We represent most traffic cases by written waiver, which means we inform you of the likely options for your case, possible outcomes, our plan of action in your case, and you allow us to go to court on your behalf, meaning you do not need to take a day off work in order to attend court to handle your traffic cases. This is especially important for persons who were ticketed while passing through western North Carolina, as well as residents with other obligations. Rest assured that your presence is not necessary, though, and if things do not go as we planned in court, we will continue the case and contact you about any new developments that may have arisen. Representation in traffic matters usually incurs a fee from as little as $100, and we typically save you far more than that by preventing possible insurance increases.
North Carolina uses two different point systems for Traffic Cases. Drivers license points, and Insurance points. Drivers license points are assessed for each traffic violation, and are tabulated by the NC DMV. When a driver accumulates 12 drivers license points in a 3 year period, The NC DMV suspends the license of the driver. After you get your license back, you can only have 8 points in three years or you lose your license again. When a driver has accumulated 7 points, they may be eligible for a DMV based “Driver Improvement Clinic” for a one time reduction of 3 points from their license.
Insurance points are assessed based on convictions on the drivers official record, or accidents requiring the insurers attention. The points assessed are regulated by the North Carolina Safe Driver improvement Program (SDIP points) A more complete list of point assessment is located HERE. As an example, a speeding ticket for 80-65 would result in 4 SDIP insurance points. This results in an 80% increase in insurance rates. This increase is assessed each time your insurance renews, for three years. If you currently pay $300 every 6 months, after on ticket for 80-65, your insurance would increase to $540, or $240 more. This continues for the next 6 renewal periods for a total insurance increase of $1440. We can usually modify the charge you are convicted of to prevent the assessment of insurance points, drivers license points, or both, depending on the circumstances of each case and your record. For a legal fee as low as $100-200, you can save $1440 or more.
Commercial drivers, drivers who hold a CDL or drivers who are operating a commercial vehicle, often have special circumstances and more severe repercussions for traffic offenses. Many offenses carry double, or enhanced, drivers license points when operating a commercial vehicle. Some options available to non-CDL drivers may not be available to commercial drivers. And this is true of not only “Class A” CDL holders, but “Class B” CDL drivers as well.
Commercial drivers also have to be concerned with their Federal CDL points, or CSA points. CSA points are assessed based on the original charges, so we make a special effort to secure dismissal whenever it is possible, and modification of charges when that is not possible. We understand how “major violations” harm a commercial driver more than a non CDL driver. We go to great lengths for every client, but understand the peculiar circumstances CDL drivers face. Although traffic charges are difficult to win at trial, we have tried successfully several CDL driver cases. Occasionally we can get permission to enter a not guilty plea and have a “trial by waiver”, but usually the defendant will need to be present in court for a trial.
Non CDL Drivers
Non CDL Drivers are concerned with driver license points, of course, but we understand that the bottom line for most drivers is in the pocketbook- We go over all available options with each client, and try to find the best cost saving option to prevent insurance increases. Different options may be best suited to different clients, depending on their family, other drivers on the policy, prior record, and the amount of driving they do. If you have negative prior entries on your driving record, we may need to come up with creative options to keep you licensed and minimize your insurance. Our extensive experience in Haywood County representing traffic defendants is your best bet for keeping your insurance rates low.
Criminal Cases in Columbus, Polk County
Typically, misdemeanor criminal cases in Polk County are handled on the second floor of the Polk County Courthouse, located at 1 Courthouse Square, Columbus NC. Court days can be any date, but usually Wednesday morning at 9:00 am criminal district court is held. Be sure to double check the date you are to arrive, and make sure you are there 5 or 10 minutes early so you are not missed at calendar call. The District Attorney is usually unable to speak with unrepresented defendants until some time after the calendar call, so without a lawyer, you should expect to spend some time in court. Superior court weeks vary throughout the year, and there are several sessions of Superior Court, though there is not a session of Superior court every week.
A district court criminal charge can be initiated by an arrest or by a citation. If the defendant is arrested, he is taken before the magistrate to have bond and other conditions of release set. Often, an unsecured bond or a small secured bond is set for misdemeanants. The defendant is given a court date if released on bond. If the defendant is taken into custody and cannot make bond, then they will be taken before a District Court Judge within a few days in order to appoint counsel or to schedule a bond hearing. Once this is done, they are given a new court date and afforded an opportunity to speak with a lawyer (who will often make a bond motion to reduce or unsecure the bond, so that the defendant can be released and better assist in defending their case. Once the court date arrives, the defendants lawyer may further investigate the case beyond what he was able to do prior to the court date, negotiate with the District Attorney, point out weaknesses in the states case, and try to arrive at an agreeable plea bargain. If no acceptable plea bargain can be had, then the case may be called for trial.
A trial in district court begins with the District Attorney arraigning the defendant, or formally announcing the charge, and the defendant, through his or her attorney, entering a formal plea of not guilty. The state then begins to call the witnesses to the stand in order to testify against the defendant. This usually consists of law enforcement officers testimony, or victim testimony, but can include other relevant witnesses and expert testimony, such as laboratory analysts from the State Crime Lab. Once the State witnesses have testified, we get our opportunity to cross examine the witnesses- This is where we may try to pin them down to a specific account of the facts, question their ability to accurately observe the situation, secure testimony of investigatory methods they did NOT use, question their credibility in many cases, and discredit their original testimony where possible and useful.
This process repeats for each state witness. Once the state feels they have presented their case adequately, the State “Rests”. If I feel the state has not adequately proven their case at this point, I make a motion to dismiss- that is, even if the Judge accepts everything testified to by the State Witnesses, the State has not adequately proven the case based on the law. If the judge grants my motion at this point, which is fairly rare, the case is dismissed. If not, we then call any witnesses we wish to testify on our behalf. The state, of course, gets the opportunity to cross examine those witnesses as we did earlier. Once all testimony has been heard, including any rebuttal witnesses or re-called witnesses, closing arguments are made before the Judge, and the Judge then issues his or her verdict.
After the verdict has been entered, if it is guilty on any of the charges, then the case proceeds to the sentencing phase.
POLK COUNTY CONTACTS
North Carolina Highway Patrol
Alcohol Law Enforcement
Wildlife Law Enforcement
Columbus Police Department
Polk County Sheriff Department
Tryon Police Department
Alcohol / Drug Assessments
Probation
Bail Bondsmen
Clerk of Court
