Prayer for Judgment (PJC)

The PJC is strange North Carolina phenomena and is only recognized in a few states. A PJC may only be granted by a judge, not a district attorney. While a PJC may be treated as a conviction for certain other violations, for traffic purposes it is easiest to view them as a judgment that has been permanently put on hold, despite the fact that you have either pled guilty or been found guilty by a judge. Generally, this means that it will never appear as a conviction on your driving record; however there are some circumstances where judgment may be entered later.

While the offense does not appear on your record as a conviction, this does not mean that it disappears altogether. The record will reflect that you were granted a PJC.

Why is this important? DMV permits two PJCs for every five years. If you are granted a PJC, no points will be added to your DMV record. For insurance purposes, every insured household may receive one PJC every three years without it counting against insurance points. However, if two PJCs are granted for the insured household within three years, the points for both offenses will be added making for a large insurance increase.

PJCs are not available for every traffic violation and are not the best outcome for everyone. You should consult with an attorney to find out what is best in your particular situation.