A
“prayer for judgment continued,” commonly referred to as PJC, is
one way to suspend the sentence of an infraction or minor crime in
North Carolina. It is often associated with speeding tickets and
other traffic offenses. When the judge enters a PJC after the
offender asks for it following a guilty plea, the defendant will
generally be spared from many of the consequences of conviction.
Here
are some points to remember when considering a PJC:
It
has limits.
For
insurance purposes, you get only one PJC every three years for each
car insurance policy, which means that if a PJC has been used by
someone else on the policy during the last three years, you may still
suffer insurance consequences if you use a PJC for a traffic offense.
Although the PJC may suspend the sentence in court, the same does not
apply to insurance companies if this rule is violated. A PJC also
cannot be offered in certain cases, such as DWIs and or failing to
stop for a stopped school bus.
Consider
it as your last resort.
Above
all, you should understand that other options may be more favorable
than asking for a PJC. Sometimes, going to traffic school or paying
the fines as sentenced may be the best outcome. In any case, be sure
to consult a Raleigh criminal lawyer to see whether you are eligible
for a PJC and if there are other options to explore for resolving
your case.
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