SALISBURY — Beginning in September statewide, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts will offer an online feature that will enable people charged with speeding offenses to request a reduction in the charges.

The Rowan County District Attorney’s Office will participate in the new online program.

Drivers will be able to request a reduction for speeding offenses if the charged speed is between 10 and 19 miles over the posted speed limit and does not exceed 80 mph.

The program is part of a multiphase initiative to provide a convenient, user-friendly means of resolving some waivable offenses online and enable the courts to efficiently process citations outside the courtroom, according to the Office of the Courts.

Pilot programs have already been implemented in Buncombe, Davidson, Davie, Johnston and Mecklenburg counties.

Speeding offenses made up nearly 50 percent of all traffic citations statewide in 2015, and they account for about 400,000 tickets annually, according to the Office of the Courts.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said the program is another resource provided by the state to help reduce foot traffic in the courthouse. Cook said the program will reduce unnecessary court appearances for minor speeding offenses.

For more information about the program, visit http://onlineservices.nccourts.org.