Davidson DWI Lawyer

Davidson DWI Attorney

A drunk driving charge can be an embarrassing and traumatic experience. It doesn’t matter whether you made an error in judgment and the arrest was legitimate, or you were falsely accused. The important thing now is how you respond. DWI (or “Impaired Driving”, as the charge is officially known under North Carolina law) carries serious penalties, underscoring the importance of working with a reputable and highly effective Davidson DWI lawyer.

Charged With DWI/DUI in Davidson, North Carolina, and Wondering What Comes Next?

According to a recent report from North Carolina’s Sentencing and Policy Advisory Committee, the typical DWI offender in the state would be a white male in his late 30s driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or more (in other words, over twice the legal limit). The reality, of course, is that drunk driving can affect anyone, in any roadway scenario, even in rural parts of Mecklenburg County and serene suburban enclaves like Davidson.

While only about 4% of all North Carolina car crashes involve alcohol, the number jumps drastically, above 25%, when zooming in on fatal crashes only, making drunk driving quite literally a life or death issue in the state. Not surprisingly, the prevalent, persistent, and deadly nature of drunk driving in North Carolina has resulted in a serious response from law enforcement, prosecutors, and local officials in recent years.

This zealous approach to keeping roadways safe sometimes results in mistakes or overblown charges. As one example, motorists may be falsely arrested for DWI when they are experiencing a mental health episode, an unexpected medication side effect, or even a serious medical event like a stroke, and need help, not handcuffs.

Hire a DWI Lawyer

Whether you were falsely accused of DWI while suffering a medical emergency, or you just made a bad decision and need a viable path to mitigating the consequences, we are here to help. With over 30 years of success in DWI defense and other areas of the law, The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., PLLC is the team you want on your side when navigating the twists, turns, and legal tedium of a DWI proceeding.

Understanding North Carolina DWI Cases

DWI (“driving while intoxicated” or “driving while impaired”) violations are defined under North Carolina law within the state’s general statutes § 20-138.1, “Impaired Driving.” For a better understanding of the full text of this law and how it relates to your specific situation, it’s wise to have a one-on-one discussion with your attorney. Some major points of the North Carolina DWI laws are:

• An offense (officially called “Impaired Driving” and not “DWI” under North Carolina law) occurs whenever someone operates a vehicle on any North Carolina highway, street, or “public vehicular area” while under the influence of intoxicating substances like drugs or alcohol.
• Per the text of the law, this applies to “any vehicle”. This means bicyclists are also subject to DWI laws in North Carolina, although the law does explicitly exclude horses from the state’s legal definition of a vehicle.
• The “legal limit” for other types of drugs can be more subjective than the 0.08% alcohol limit hard-coded into the law–except where Schedule I controlled substances are concerned. There is zero tolerance for driving under the effects of Schedule I drugs (heroin, ecstasy, LSD, etc.) in North Carolina, meaning that if any metabolites of a Schedule I drug show up in a driver’s chemical analysis, this will be seen by the state as sufficient cause to trigger DWI proceedings.
• Having the legal authority to consume a substance (e.g., a valid prescription for strong painkillers) is not considered a valid defense against a DWI charge in North Carolina.

FAQs

How Likely Is Jail Time for a First DWI in North Carolina?

The likelihood of jail time for a first DWI in North Carolina depends on a variety of factors, such as the severity of the incident, the type of substance involved, and aggravating circumstances like property damage, injury, or resisting arrest.

Upon arrest, many DWI suspects are taken to jail until they are no longer intoxicated, but in terms of sentencing, first-time DWI convictions can often result in probation and other non-incarceration penalties if a competent defense strategy is in place.

Is a DWI Worse Than a DUI in North Carolina?

Since these are not distinct, separately defined terms under state law. Rather, DWI and DUI are both synonyms for “impaired driving”, which is the official name of a drunk or drugged driving charge in North Carolina. This information is not universal, as other states may have very different laws and definitions regarding operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

What Is the Ideal Scenario for a DWI?

The ideal scenario for a DWI is that it never occurs in the first place because everyone makes the wise decision to obey traffic laws and never, ever operate a motor vehicle while drinking alcohol or consuming other intoxicants. Drunk driving is not a joke or a game, and it doesn’t just cause a police response that puts every other motorist at risk of wrongful arrest; it also kills many people in North Carolina every year.

What Can a DWI Be Reduced to in North Carolina?

A DWI can be reduced to a lesser charge in North Carolina in certain circumstances, but this often requires a smart and meticulously designed defense strategy. For a chance of getting a DWI (or any other charge) reduced or dismissed, you should first find an attorney you can trust, ideally one with a track record of success in DWI defense cases similar to your own.

The Law Office of William T. Corbett, Jr., PLLC – Davidson, NC’s Premiere DWI Lawyer

When you’re ready for help, our experienced DWI defense team is only a click or call away. Reach out as soon as possible to schedule a no-judgment, no-obligation consultation so we can learn more about your legal needs. Our legal team is prepared to help you explore your options.