Our Wilmington criminal defense attorneys at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC represent individuals who are arrested for DWIs throughout North Carolina.
Driving while impaired (DWI) charges in North Carolina can significantly impact your daily activities and future livelihood, resulting in the loss of driving privileges, increased insurance rates, employment consequences, court fines, jail time, and financial uncertainty.
Fortunately, like all criminal charges, you have the right to partner with a skilled defense attorney who can examine both aggravating and mitigating factors that will contribute to or lessen the penalties sought by the North Carolina prosecutor’s office.
We can help ensure your story is told by assessing the circumstances that led to you being pulled over, how your Blood Alcohol Concentration was obtained, and any additional evidence compiled against you to ensure your rights were not violated during the legal process.
If they were, we will move quickly to have your charges dismissed or pursue a lesser charge as we fight to help you keep your driving privileges, so you learn from the experience and put it behind you.
Will I Go to Jail for a First-Time DWI Offense in North Carolina?
If you are pulled over and arrested for a DWI anywhere in North Carolina, chances are you are going to spend the night in jail. If there was property damage, injuries, or fatalities that resulted from you getting behind the wheel while legally over the limit, your freedom could be in real jeopardy.
North Carolina imposes long-term penalties for those convicted of DWI charges, even for first-time offenders, to deter the behavior going forward.
The legal consequences of a first DWI conviction in North Carolina may include:
- Loss of a driver’s license for one year
- Probation
- Fines
- Alcohol assessment classes
- Community service
The charges can impact your life beyond the courtroom, as well, and can lead to increased auto insurance premiums, job loss in certain professions, or professional license suspensions or revocation.
We can help. Call us today to learn more about your legal rights and options, so you can face your North Carolina DWI charges with confidence.
A Second or Third North Carolina DWI Charge Will Lead to Increased Penalties
Like most criminal charges, a second or subsequent DWI conviction will come with increased legal penalties in North Carolina.
These significant penalties can range from:
- License suspension from one to four years
- Ignition Lock requirement
- Extensive fines
- Long-term probation requirements
- Minimum jail time of four days up to two years
North Carolina has a “lookback period” that is measured by the date of your last DWI conviction to the date of the new DWI arrest that contributes to the level and enforcement of penalties.
In North Carolina, a third DWI conviction within ten years is a felony called, Habitual Impaired Driving.
Habitual Impaired Driving conviction penalties include:
- Lifetime loss of a driver’s license, which cannot be reinstated at any time, or appealed for any reason.
- Minimum prison sentence of one year, which cannot be suspended or shortened for any reason.
If you have been arrested for a second or third time for a DWI in North Carolina, you are going to need a skilled criminal defense lawyer to pursue the best outcome for your unique circumstances.
That is why we are here. Contact us today to discuss your case, so we can begin preparing your strategic defense right away.
Can Marcilliat & Mills PLLC Help Me Get a DWI Conviction Expunged From My Record?
The short answer is no. Even first offense DWI convictions cannot be expunged from your record in North Carolina.
This means a conviction — even one that comes with a guilty plea with the prosecutor’s office — will not only come with legal penalties but will also be visible during a criminal history background check going forward.
The key element in North Carolina DWI cases is to avoid a conviction altogether. We can help.
Contact Our Skilled Driving While Impaired Defense Attorneys in North Carolina Today
Contact our skilled criminal defense attorneys in Wilmington at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC today by calling 910-858-8647 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can empower you to take a stand and pursue the best outcome for your unique legal circumstances.