In North Carolina and the rest of the states in the country, drunk driving is considered a crime. As such, drivers who are accused and convicted of drunk driving can face significant sanctions for the conduct they are alleged to have committed. This post will touch on some of the penalties individuals can face if they are found guilty of their DWI charges in the courts of North Carolina.
A driver is considered drunk if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches .08. A driver may be found to be driving drunk with a lower BAC, but once it reaches that threshold then they are considered per se drunk. A first time conviction for drunk driving can result in a driver losing their license for 30 days, but that revocation can last up to one full year.
Subsequent DWI arrests and convictions can lead to longer periods of license revocation. A driver may lose the right to drive if they incur too many DWI convictions, and in addition to this sanction a driver may also have their vehicle confiscated, be sentenced to alcohol treatment and rehabilitation, and have their DWI reflected on their criminal record.
When others are hurt in drunk driving incidents a driver may face even more serious penalties. That is why it is often a good idea for a person facing a drunk driving charge to consult with a DWI defense attorney. Although the outcome of legal matters cannot be predicted and cases must be evaluated on their unique facts, DWI defense attorneys can often guide their clients through defense strategies that may help them avoid the serious penalties that can derail their futures when convictions are reached.
