NC court proceedings postponed, payments for fines extended during coronavirus crisis
North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued an order this week with multiple directives, including postponing court proceedings for a second time until June 1.
Beasley’s order also includes giving more time for payments of fines. That deadline has been extended by 90 days and clerks were directed not to report failures to pay court debt to the DMV.
“We want people to know that they do not need to come to the courthouse right now to pay a traffic ticket,” Chief Justice Beasley said in a release. “Deadlines for those payments have been extended and licenses will not be suspended until this emergency passes. We want people staying at home and staying safe.”
Traffic tickets and other fees can be paid online at NCcourts.gov. The public can also use that site to sign up for text reminders for rescheduled court dates. People can access other court services online, including citation services, ticket and court payments, court date notifications and reminders, eFiling court documents for specific courts and case types.
Also included in Beasley’s order:
Continues to direct clerks of court to post notices at court facilities discouraging entry by those infected with COVID-19.
Authorizes court proceedings to be conducted by remote audio and video transmissions.
Directs attorneys and others without business before the court to avoid court facilities.
Allows use of a sworn statement under penalty of perjury rather than notarization for court filings and oaths.
Allows service of court documents by email.
“Judicial officials and court personnel statewide are going above and beyond to serve the public during this health emergency,” Beasley wrote. “My number one priority is to protect them and the public by limiting gatherings and foot traffic in our courtrooms, while making sure our courts stay available to serve the public.”
On March 27, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order directing individuals in North Carolina to stay home with limited exceptions. At the time, Cooper said courts were directed to maintain social distancing requirements and to facilitate “online or remote access by customers if possible.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 1:23 PM with the headline "NC court proceedings postponed, payments for fines extended during coronavirus crisis."
