I live in NC and I just received a citation for not wearing a seat belt? Will this affect my driver license and insurance records? Do I need to find an attorney?

In North Carolina the seat belt law is a primary law, meaning you can be pulled over by law enforcement for this offense alone instead of states where it is a secondary offense you can be cited for once stopped for another traffic offense such as speeding.

North Carolina Statute 20-135.2A is the section of law discussing mandatory seat belt use. Here under section (a) it says that except as otherwise provided in G.S. 20‑137.1, each occupant of a motor vehicle manufactured with seat belts shall have a seat belt properly fastened about his or her body at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street or highway in this State.

Subsection (e) goes on to state:

Any driver or front seat passenger who fails to wear a seat belt as required by this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus court costs in the sum of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Any rear seat occupant of a vehicle who fails to wear a seat belt as required by this section shall have committed an infraction and shall pay a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) and no court costs. Court costs assessed under this section are for the support of the General Court of Justice and shall be remitted to the State Treasurer. Conviction of an infraction under this section has no other consequence.

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And subsection (f) notes that no drivers license points or insurance surcharge shall be assessed on account of violation of a seat belt conviction.

So according to the NC laws you do not receive points on your license nor can an insurance rates be raised on your car insurance policy but the offense can be placed on your North Carolina driving record.

The NC DOT Division of Motor Vehicles would be able to tell you more about the offense going on your motor vehicle record and for how long. To find out the exact fine amount you will pay for the seat belt ticket in NC, contact the court listed on the ticket. Once speaking to the court clerk you can make the personal decision of if you need to seek legal advice or a lawyer if you want to fight the ticket instead of plead guilty and pay the fine.