A person in the Rocky Mount area probably knows just from public service announcements that getting accused of drunk driving could mean that a person will spend time in jail. This is so even if it is a first offense and even if there are no aggravating circumstances.
In the midst of worrying about jail time, what may get lost in the shuffle is that North Carolina also has some pretty harsh mandatory license suspensions for those who get convicted of a DWI, which in North Carolina is also referred to as driving while impaired.
For instance, even a first-time offender with no other criminal cases or even traffic tickets will receive a minimum license revocation of one year. For a second offense, a person will receive a 4-year suspension. Any further offenses will be a long-term, indefinite revocation that the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles describes as permanent.
For those who may be tempted to refuse to take a certified chemical test in order to avoid these consequences, a refusal will result in an automatic revocation of one year. This suspension could be above and beyond the suspension a person will receive if convicted of DWI in spite of refusing to take a test.
There are many North Carolina residents who simply cannot afford to lose their driving privileges for any length of time. In some cases, for instance, not being able to drive could mean not being able to earn a living.
There may be legal options available for North Carolina residents who are facing a license suspension due to a drunk driving charge. These options could include confronting the prosecutor’s case, or it could involve some other proceeding that might help a person be able to drive on the most important occasions.
