YouâLl Need A Good Attorney After A Dui In North Carolina
Throughout the US, the States use many acronyms, like DUI, OWI, and DWAI, to refer to drunk driving laws. North Carolina’s drunk driving laws are known as DWI (driving while impaired). If you’re charged with a DWI/DUI in North Carolina, it was because your fitness to drive (either physical or mental) was believed to be impaired, or your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was chemically tested and found to be .08 or above.
A DUI in North Carolina triggers two separate cases. In some circumstances, these cases can be intertwined, and a drunk driving lawyer can help you sort it out. The first is the administrative case, which centers around your driver’s license and your driving privileges. North Carolina is an implied consent state, meaning you gave your consent to be tested by law enforcement when you were issued your driver’s license. For drivers who do not live in North Carolina but who are arrested for dui there, gave their consent just by virtue of traveling on North Carolina’s roads. When you are arrested for DUI, it does not matter whether you failed your BAC test, or if you refused to take one – they each result in a revocation of your license from 30 days to one year. You may want to contact a dwi lawyer, because you do have the right to an administrative hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles if you refused the test. And, if your lawyer wins, you might be able to qualify for a limited license after six months of the revocation.
The second case is a criminal case that centers around the fines and other judicial punishments of the case. A conviction in this case could result in the permanent loss of your driver’s license, which is why it’s so important to locate the best dwi lawyer. The criminal punishments for your first North Carolina DUI include fines from $100 to $2,000, from 24 hours to 24 months in prison, and 24 hours of community service. It’s important to note that a dwi conviction remains on your record forever.
You may also want to seek legal counsel because North Carolina sanctions can be flexible and dependent upon the conditions, as well as any aggravating circumstances, of your dwi arrest. For example, North Carolina can seize your vehicle if another State has revoked your license and that offense is determined to be similar to a DWI in North Carolina. Another example is if your BAC is at or greater than .16; if so, you will be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle at your own expense.
Finally, if you have had prior North Carolina DWI offenses, there are new BAC rules for which you need to abide. If you have had your license reinstated after a dwi offense, you have a new maximum allowed BAC level of .04. If you’ve had a second offense, your new BAC level is .00. An interesting point here is that a dwi remains on your record for 7 years. Do you have all the facts? Maybe you should find a good dwi defense lawyer, just in case you don’t.
About the Author
MyDUIAttorney.org is a directory of qualified attorneys, lawyers and firms who deal with drunk driving cases and help defend those charged with a DUI offense. The directory provides a source of marketing and lead generation for these attorneys, lawyers and law firms, making it easy for DUI offenders to search and contact qualified professionals who can help them.
