Any driving while intoxicated charge is serious. However, anyone who is arrested for DWI who has a prior conviction for drunk driving will be facing heightened potential for punishment, if a subsequent conviction is entered. According to recent reports, that is exactly the scenario that a man from Georgia is facing in North Carolina after his arrest in Shelby recently for what is reportedly his ninth DWI charge.
According to the reports, the encounter between the suspect and law enforcement officials occurred around June 18. The reports indicate that the suspect was observed traveling in a Nissan Altima at 87 miles per hour in an area designated with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour. When the police officer who pulled the man over made contact with the suspect, the officer reportedly asked the suspect how much alcohol he had consumed that night. The suspect allegedly admitted that he was drunk.
The police officer also reportedly observed that the suspect had “glassy” eyes and slurred speech, and that a smell of alcohol was coming from the suspect’s car. The suspect participated in field sobriety tests, but there is no indication from the reports whether or not he passed those tests. However, the reports do indicate that the suspect submitted to a breathalyzer test, with reported results of 0.23 and 0.24 blood alcohol content. The legal limit is 0.08.
Although the evidence against the suspect in this recent incident may seem overwhelming, in addition to his reported prior convictions, he is still entitled to a criminal defense. It may be possible to reach a plea agreement with the prosecution.
