Charlotte, North Carolina DWI Lawyer

Being charged with Driving While Intoxicated comes with serious consequences, including jail time, loss of driving privileges, and monetary fines. For this reason, it is imperative you consult a Charlotte DWI criminal defense attorney. Finding an assertive and professional DWI lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina can help you understand your case, including any defenses you might take.

DWI Charges in Charlotte, North Carolina

According to the law in North Carolina, when you have been cited for violating the DWI statute, two simultaneous (yet separate) legal actions are taken against you. For one, an administrative action is brought against your North Carolina driver's license (handled by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.) Also, a criminal action is taken in response to the DWI.

While both actions can result in the loss of driving privileges in North Carolina, it is important to remember that there may be additional penalties to consider and each action must be handled on its own. If you were arrested for DWI (driving while intoxicated) in or around Charlotte, North Carolina, finding an assertive and professional DWI lawyer can help you get answers to your questions.

Administrative Hearing

Pursuant to North Carolina law, an individual has 10 (ten) days to complete and turn in paperwork for an administrative hearing from the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you fail to complete and turn in paperwork for a hearing within 10 (ten) days, your right to the hearing is lost, and your driver's license is suspended for the statutory time frame applicable to your case. This is why timing is so important.

To preserve your right to an administrative hearing, you need to submit your request to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

DWI Penalties for First Time Offenders in Charlotte

Individuals with a first time DWI conviction in North Carolina can face:

• Commercial Drivers - If commercial drivers in North Carolina have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04 of over, they are in violation of the DWI statute. A first time DWI conviction will result in the loss of the (CDL) commercial driver's license for 1 year, with any subsequent DWI offenses resulting in a lifetime loss of the commercial license (CDL.)
• Driving Privileges - A DWI conviction will result in the mandatory revocation of all driving privileges for one year.
• North Carolina Chemical Test Refusal - Refusing to submit to a test when requested by police officers in Charlotte will result in the immediate suspension of driving privileges for at least 30 days, and additional minimum 12 month revocation by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. The court may allow for limited driving privileges 6 months after the refusal, but this depends on many factors.
• DWI Fines and Fees - Fines for a first time DWI in Charlotte, North Carolina can range from $100 to $2,000.
• DWI Incarceration - A first time DWI offender in North Carolina faces incarceration for a minimum of 24 hours up to a maximum of 2 years.

North Carolina law requires that DWI offenders obtain a substance abuse assessment and complete the recommended intervention, which is either education or treatment. Sobriety checkpoints are continually set up in all North Carolina counties as part of the state's effective anti-drunk driving campaign. Between July 2006 and June 2007, over 28,000 North Carolinians completed these requirements after being convicted of a DWI.

Legal Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

DWI Subsequent Offenses

DWI In North Carolina

The Booze It & Lose It campaign in Charlotte, North Carolina targets drunk drivers by using innovative DWI education (and enforcement.) Throughout North Carolina, sobriety checkpoints are used as part of the state's highly effective anti-DWI campaign. Using 6 mobile breath-alcohol testing units (called BATMobiles), police officers in Charlotte increase efficiency of DWI processing on the scene. Each vehicle comes with workstations for Intoxilyzer 5000 breath test instruments, cellular telephones, traffic cones, traffic vests, computers, search batons, screening test devices and more.