i just got a ticket on my motorcycle for "overtaking and passing on the right"?

[BRobb]

how serious is this?
all i did was get in front of somebody when the lane was about to end.
is this going to put points on my motorcycle license and increase my insurance?
what can a traffic attorney do?
how much should i expect to pay the attorney to appear in court for me?
i live in north carolina.

check my stats, i always select the best answer.

[PonyDriver]

I'm not from N.C. or am familiar with or knew anyone that was ever cited for such a law, but I am wondering on some things that could help your case if you can prove this...

Did you pass the other vehicle because you felt 'forced' to because your lane was coming to and end and you felt "trapped' with the car in front of you and a vehicle behind you and and felt that you couldn't merge safely between the two cars so you quickly made the move to get around the car in front of you?
Are there any lanes merging signs and where are they from the point where the lanes merge and how much time could someone react to safely merge without feeling the need to speed up and overtake another vehicle?