A driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge may follow a targeted traffic stop or a motor vehicle collision. Police officers screen those involved in crashes, those pulled over for other infractions and those reported to local authorities due to alarming conduct on the road.
Those who show signs of intoxication on the road or who fail chemical tests are at risk of DWI charges. Depending on the circumstances leading to an arrest and the prior record of the accused driver, the potential penalties for a DWI can include probation, incarceration, fines and also a driver’s license suspension.
The loss of driving privileges can create significant hardship. People may not be able to provide necessary services for their families and are at risk of losing their jobs when they cannot drive themselves. The cost of securing alternative transportation can be prohibitive.
How long do people need to worry about losing their licenses after a DWI conviction?
Repeat offenses lead to worse consequences
North Carolina typically does not reduce DWI charges to lesser offenses while plea bargaining, and the courts must uphold sentencing guidelines after a conviction. Even a first DWI without any aggravating factors could potentially cost a driver their license for an entire year.
Under current North Carolina DWI statutes, the courts must impose a minimum one-year driver’s license suspension after a first DWI offense. If the driver has a prior DWI conviction on their record, the suspension imposed can potentially increase to four years. For those facing a third or subsequent offense, the state can permanently suspend their driver’s license.
Declining chemical testing does not necessarily protect a motorist from those consequences. Post-arrest test refusal also carries a one-year license suspension, in addition to the criminal penalties for the DWI offense. The best way for drivers in North Carolina to avoid the serious penalties carried by DWI convictions is to fight the charges they face.
A strong defense strategy can help people preserve their driving privileges and avoid other criminal penalties, as well as the damaging consequences of a criminal record. The support of an experienced criminal defense attorney can give DWI defendants the best shot at minimizing the risks associated with drunk driving charges.