With the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, businesses around the globe are having to make decisions to close, whether it be temporarily or permanent.  Here in North Carolina, bars and restaurants are currently closed for dine-in, and are instead offering take out and/or delivery options.  These changes are set for at least March 31, possibly longer, depending on how the virus develops and continues to spread. 

As of today, because of COVID-19, the Wrightsville Beach Mayor and the Chief of Police have decided to close all of the public beach accesses.  Surf City has also made the announcement that they have closed their public beach accesses.   

Carolina Beach officials followed in the same fashion at a meeting this afternoon, and called a State of Emergency and decided to also close their public beach accesses.  These decisions have been made to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our area, especially now that there have been 3 positive test results from our area.  

Wrightsville Beach, Surf City, and Carolina Beach are all popular destinations for tourists and locals – other beaches in our area include Caswell Beach, Holden Beach, Kure Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Surf City, Sunset Beach, and Topsail Island.  However, officials in North Carolina are strongly urging residents strongly suggest against non-essential travel at this time and many vacation rental agency discuss flexible cancellation and date moving requests due to Covid19.  And, North Carolina’s welcome centers have been closed until at least April 1, 2020.

In the midst of information about the spreading of the virus or new precautions, unfortunately, false claims are spread promising ways to prevent an infection or even kill the virus, like inhaling hot air from a hair dryer, or gargling with warm water and salt or vinegar.  Please always consider the source of information and check with a healthcare professional before turning to self-remedies.  

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

Pender County was established in 1875 and named after the Confederate Army General William D. Pender who was honored for fighting in many battles for this country. Pender County currently holds a population of 62,162 as of the 2018 U.S. census, and has grown approximately 15% since 1990, when the population was 34,000. This has made Pender County one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina.  

Known best for its beautiful scenery, voluminous forest areas, and flat terrain with a land area of 869.80 square miles, Pender County is able to grow an assortment of different crops such as sweet potatoes, peanuts, grapes, soybeans, corn, tobacco, and blueberries which generates a major portion of the county’s economic base. Burgaw has their annual Blueberry Festival where more than 30,000 people have been estimated to attend each year for their one-day event, where locals and tourist enjoy family entertainment all day and experience their southern hospitality.  

In addition to the flat terrain in Pender County, there are two rivers that run through the county, the Cape Fear River and the Black River. Running along the Northeast of the Cape Fear River is the Holly Shelter Game Land, where you can hunt during September 8^th through January 1^st and hike through the off season. The Black River is unique due to it being one of only two rivers that are pollution free in North Carolina. Pender County is also home to Topsail Beach, which attracts visitors all year long because of its small town feel and the beautiful beach.     

Pender County has several major highways surrounding it such as I-40, U.S. 17, U.S. 421, and U.S. 117. These highways can help make an easier commute to surrounding cities such as Wilmington, Jacksonville, or Myrtle Beach.

With all the traveling and sightseeing, make sure you are following the rules of the road – always wear your seatbelt, drive at safe speeds, and never drive impaired.

However, if you or someone you know received a traffic ticket, or face a criminal charge in or around Burgaw, NC, in Pender County, in New Hanover or Brunswick Counties, then Attorney David Collins can help.  He has over 25 years of experience in the legal field, and has successfully handled scores of criminal and traffic cases.

Call us for a confidential consultation at (910) 793-9000.  Collins Law Firm is available 24/7 by appointment.

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

As of today, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in New Hanover County.  However, over the weekend, a person in Brunswick County received a positive diagnosis for the virus. 

In response to the pandemic, the Brunswick County Courthouse is closed until at least Friday, March 20, 2020.  The New Hanover and Pender County Courthouses are currently open, but not to the general public and with restrictions. 

On a national level, the PGA Golf Tour has been cancelled, and the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS) are all suspending their seasons.  Even Disney Parks have all been closed to try to halt the spread of the virus.  With respect to events local to our area, the Azalea Festival has been cancelled, as well as the Southport Spring Festival.  The Cameron Art Museum will be closed from March 17 through March 30, 2020.  Grocery stores will have shorter hours, such as Publix closing at 8 p.m., and Walmart will now only be open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., regardless of whether or not they are a 24-hour store. 

So far, K-12 schools across the State have cancelled classes until at least March 30, 2020.  However, there are options for children to pick up breakfast and lunch from different locations in their area.  All schools within the UNC School System have cancelled in-person classes by March 20, with online courses beginning March 23.

These cancellations and closures have been in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus, which in turn will help keep our healthcare system from being overloaded, similar to what is currently happening in Italy. 

We urge everyone to continue to practice excellent hygiene, such as properly washing your hands often, practice social distancing, and stay home if you have symptoms, and check for updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  If you have the option, please consider to conduct business remotely if possible.  Also, if you intent to see your healthcare provider because you suspect you may have contracted the virus, please call then first so they can take precautions and prepare to see you. 

North Carolina residents who have questions and concerns about coronavirus may call the Coronavirus Line at 1-866-462-3821. 

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread around the United States, we try to hope for the best and plan for the worst, as far as preparing for a potential outbreak here in our area.  Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

As of today, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in New Hanover County, but there is one case confirmed in nearby Onslow County, at Camp Lejeune. 

The New Hanover County Courthouse released a statement today with respect to their actions against spreading the virus. 

As a precaution, the Azalea Festival has been cancelled, and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has decided to cancel all high school sporting events starting midnight on Friday, March 13, until at least April 6, 2020. 

Officials say that practicing proper hygiene and handwashing techniques can help prevent spread of COVID-19, but also to get in the habit of practicing “social distancing,” which can best be described as keeping 6-10 feet away from others, not going to crowded events, avoiding shaking hands with people, and if you have any respiratory symptoms, use your best judgment to self-monitor your symptoms and contact your medical provider, and to decide whether you should stay home from work and other activities.

As we stay as prepared as possible, as well as wait to hear additional information on how our daily lives will be affected, we urge you all to continue to use caution when out in public, wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, and wipe down areas that are frequently touched by multiple people – phones, TV remotes, laptops, tablets, doorknobs, and light switches. 

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

As the summer season comes to a close this year, there are more cars on the road –schools are fully back in session, and New Hanover County has had a continuously increasing number of residents which is currently at 227,000+.  And, events such as the Wilmington Riverfest and the Cape Fear Fair and Expo attract tourists to add even more to our already crowded streets.

WECT reported this week that there have been three pedestrians hit and killed in a ten day period here in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Wilmington Police Department (WPD) was shocked at the high rate of occurrence of deadly hit and runs in our area recently, even considering the perpetual construction and awful traffic.  The WPD urges pedestrians to be extra cautious and mindful of the laws, especially considering that traffic has the right of way if a pedestrian is crossing the street mid-block.

Police say these pedestrian safety tips could save lives:

• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• When possible, cross the street at a designated crosswalk.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street.
• Look for cars in all directions, including those turning right or left.
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach you to make sure you are seen.
• Wear bright clothing during the day and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

Another common cause of car accidents is distracted driving, whether that is texting, eating, or simply not paying attention to their surroundings.  Only a partial second of distraction is needed for a potentially life-changing accident to occur.  Giving it a second thought before texting while driving could be what it takes to save your life, or someone else’s!  However, eliminating distractions while you’re driving is only half the battle when considering being a safe driver – you also have to be aware of other driver’s movements, and anticipate possible traffic violations, such as running a red light, or failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in an accident, as a result of someone else’s fault or negligence, we can help you get maximum compensation, meaning money damages, for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.

If you are charged with any type of crime in Southeastern North Carolina, in or around Wilmington NC in New Hanover County, Brunswick County, or Pender County, call Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation about what we can do for you.

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

Labor Day 2019 in Southeastern North Carolina is expected to be a busy and dangerous holiday.  Being the holiday weekend that traditionally wraps up the summer season, travelers are anxious to get their last beach trip of the year started, and Star News reported yesterday that nearly one-third more fatal accidents occur on Labor Day weekend than a typical three-day period.  In 2017 alone, 354 fatal car accidents occurred during the Labor Day weekend across the United States, leaving 374 people dead.

The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) has handled over 100 crashes per Labor Day weekend for the past 3 years, with none of those ending in fatalities.  However, DWI-related stops have become more frequent each year and in 2018 alone, WPD responded to 13 DWI-related incidents in the Wilmington area.  A larger and more widespread police presence will be on duty for the holiday weekend, so drivers should continue to be cautious, use turn signals, follow the speed limits, remove distractions like texting, and never drink and drive.  More people on the road simply means more opportunities for car wrecks, and it only takes a moment of distraction to cause a life-altering accident.

In addition to an already-expected increase in traffic, with Hurricane Dorian expected to hit land in Florida early next week, there is concern that evacuees from Florida could cause more traffic congestion on I-95, and some may head our way to escape the torment of the storm.

As well as opportunities for more car accidents, plenty of families will be celebrating this Labor Day weekend, and drinking alcohol is part of many of the events.  In the revelry many people will be charged with alcohol related crimes including open container, driving while impaired or driving under the influence (DWI/DUI), fake ID or counterfeit identification, underage drinking, and aiding and abetting these and other crimes.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in an accident, as a result of someone else’s fault or negligence, we can help you get maximum compensation, meaning money damages, for your pain and suffering, medical bills,, and lost wages.

If you are charged with any type of crime in Southeastern North Carolina, in or around Wilmington NC in New Hanover County, Brunswick County, or Pender County, call Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation about what we can do for you. In many cases, we are able to negotiate with the charging officer and the district attorney’s office to have a defendant perform volunteer service in order to have the charges dismissed.  Sometimes, that volunteer service can be served on the beach picking up trash, and helping keep our beautiful beaches clean, including Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Topsail Beach, Wilmington Beach, and Kure Beach.

By Karen M. Thompson, Paralegal

Thanksgiving—traditionally a celebration of the blessings of the year, including the harvest—is generally the begin of the “Holiday Season” in the United States.

This year there is a lot to be thankful for, i.e. higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth.  This however is also expected to lead to an increase in Thanksgiving travel with projected 54.3 million Americans to travel 50 or more miles from home which is a 4.8 percent increase compared to last year’s travel.

In an effort to ensure safe travel, the North Carolina State Highway will participate in the Thanksgiving I-40 Challenge, and will be placing troopers every 20 miles along the 2,555 miles long interstate connecting Bartow, California, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Travelers themselves can contribute to ensuring safe travel and abide by the road rules.  While most everybody is aware of the requirements to follow the speed limit, wear your seatbelt, and burn your headlights, there some other rules which appear not to be known so well:

The Fender Bender Law

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 20-161 motorists are required to move their vehicles to the shoulder of the road following a minor, non-injury crash.  The failure to do so could result in a $110 fine and court costs.

The Move over Law

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 20-157 motorists are required to:

Move the vehicle into a lane that is not the lane nearest the parked or standing authorized emergency vehicle or public service vehicle and continue traveling in that lane until it is safe to clear the authorized emergency vehicle. This paragraph applies only if the roadway has at least two lanes for traffic proceeding in the direction of the approaching vehicle and if the approaching vehicle may change lanes safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.

Slow the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for traffic conditions, and operate the vehicle at a reduced speed and be prepared to stop until completely past the authorized emergency vehicle or public service vehicle. This paragraph applies only if the roadway has only one lane for traffic proceeding in the direction of the approaching vehicle or if the approaching vehicle may not change lanes safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.

A failure to obey by this law could result in a $500 fine.

The Keep Right Law

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §20-146(b) vehicles traveling a multi-lane roadway at less than the legal maximum speed limit shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for thru traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn.  A violation of this law is an infraction pursuant to N.C.G.S. §20-176 (a) and if convicted, North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicle would assess 2 driver’s license points pursuant to N.C.G.S. §20-16 (c), or 3 driver’s license points if the violation occurred during the operation of a commercial motor vehicle.

Mobile phone Use by Drivers Younger than 18

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §20-11(c)(6)  drivers under the age of 18 may not use a mobile phone when operating a motor vehicle except in case of an emergency to call 9-1-1.  Violators may have to pay a $25 fine.

Texting While Driving

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 20-137.4A motorists are prohibited from using their mobile telephone for text messaging or electronic mail.  A violation of this law may result in a $100 fine.

Spend this Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and/or family, enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie, and have a few drinks if you wish, but please, be patient in this holiday traffic and if you drink, do not drive – take a cab, Uber, or Lyft or have a designated driver.

However, should you or someone you know receive a citation for a traffic violation in Southeastern North Carolina, in or around Wilmington, NC in New Hanover County, Brunswick County, or Pender County, contact Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

We wish you all safe travel and Happy Thanksgiving!

By Jana Collins

In an attempt to ensure school bus safety, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is taking proactive steps by launching their annual week-long statewide Operation Stop Arm beginning today, October 15, 2018.   State Troopers will be aggressively enforcing stop arm violations and other traffic violations in and around school zones statewide through the end of school Friday, October 19, 2012.

Colonel Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol said:  “Every child should be afforded a safe means of travel as they attend their respective educational institution”, and that “While this operation is scheduled to conclude on Friday, our efforts will continue throughout the school year.”

As a reminder, we have listed what you are and are not allowed to do with respect to a stopped school bus:

• Two-lane road – Everyone must stop
• Four-lane road with no separation – Everyone must stop
• Four-lane or more with a median or some physical barrier – Only traffic following the bus must stop
• Center turn lane with less than four lanes – Everyone must stop
• Center turn lane with at least four other lanes – Only traffic following the bus must stop

Pursuant to North Carolina State Law (N.C.G.S. §20-217), a driver must stop when a school bus is displaying its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights and the bus is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, the driver of any other vehicle that approaches the school bus from any direction on the same street, highway, or public vehicular area shall bring that other vehicle to a full stop and shall remain stopped. The driver of the other vehicle shall not proceed to move, pass, or attempt to pass the school bus until after the mechanical stop signal has been withdrawn, the flashing red stoplights have been turned off, and the bus has started to move.

Consequences for motorists who fail to comply with school bus safety rules:

• Minimum fine of $500 and a Class 1 misdemeanor if you pass a stopped school bus
• Minimum fine of $1,250 and a Class I felony if you pass a stopped school bus and strike someone
• Minimum fine of $2,500 and a Class H felony if someone is killed

While drivers are required by law to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading passengers, it is also very important for parents to talk to their children and instruct them to stop and look both ways when getting on or off of the school bus, just in case a driver does not stop for the stopped bus for any reason.

If you or somebody you know receives a citation for not complying with school bus safety rules or face any other kind of traffic or criminal charges in our area, Collins Law Firm can help.  We have handled thousands of traffic tickets for our clients, and we offer free phone consultations for most traffic or criminal matters. Please call us for a confidential consultation at: 910-793-9000.

By Jana Collins, Office Manager

In North Carolina, driving is a privilege.  Some drivers however put themselves and others in danger by disregarding traffic laws and driving dangerously, negligently or carelessly.  Such driving behavior is an abuse of one’s driving privilege and may result in the loss of said privilege.  The temporary loss of one’s driving privilege is called suspension.  Upon successful completion of the terms of the suspension, one may get their driving privilege reinstated.  Some offenses however, warrant one’s driving privileges to be terminated.  This is called revocation.  Upon a revocation, one must meet eligibility requirements in order to get their license reinstated and may need to have an administrative hearing.  Once found eligible, one will need to reapply for a driver license at a driver license office.

Below is a table providing general information regarding common suspensions and revocations.  However, each driving record is different and multiple suspensions may effect one’s eligibility for reinstatement of their driving privileges.

Therefore, it is important that you consult with an attorney knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with violations of traffic laws and driving privileges to either avoid a suspension or revocations, or to meet eligibility requirements for the reinstatement of one’s driving privilege.

Collins Law Firm represents people charged with a wide range of traffic matters from simple speeding tickets to serious felony charges. In many cases we are able to avoid the necessity of our clients appearing in court and we help eliminate or mitigate the negative consequences of citations or charges. For most minor traffic matters, Collins Law Firm offers a free initial telephone consultation or we usually have appointments available immediately if you would like to come to our office to meet with a member of our staff.

Should you or someone you know receive a citation for a traffic law violation such as a speeding ticket, call the friendly professionals at Collins Law Firm at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

By Jana H. Collins

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute § 20-135.2A, all passengers in a vehicle are required to be properly restrained and violations are punishable by fines of currently up to $179.

North Carolina Highway Patrol, Colonel Bill Grey said:  “Wearing your seat belt is the single most effective action to protect yourself in a crash.”

Over 400 people died last year in North Carolina alone as a result of not wearing their seat belt.

In an effort to reduce that number, the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program along with state and local law enforcement will be ticketing offenders.   This year’s 25^th annual Memorial Day Click It or Ticket campaign began on Monday, May 21, and will last through Sunday, June 3, 2018.

Therefore, if you hit the road along with almost 1.1 million North Carolinians this weekend, make sure you travel safely and buckle up.

Should you or someone you know still end up with a seat belt ticket or any other kind of traffic citation in New Hanover, Brunswick, or Pender County, then Collins Law Firm can help.  Please call us at 910-793-9000 for a confidential consultation.

Enjoy your Holiday weekend!

By Jana H. Collins