Defending Clients Facing Drunk Driving Charges
Being arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol can be scary, especially when it’s your first time being accused of this crime. After all, a North Carolina DUI conviction can affect everything from your freedom and driving privileges to your career and finances. This is why it’s important to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer who will fight your charges on your behalf.
Kreider Attorneys At Law has helped countless clients get the best possible results when facing serious criminal charges, so you can depend on our team to aggressively fight for you in court. If you’re worried about losing your driver’s license, getting the maximum jail sentence, or dealing with the other penalties associated with a drunk driving conviction in North Carolina, call our Greensboro law offices for legal guidance.
What Should You Know About North Carolina’s DUI Laws?
It’s important to understand the criminal charge you’re facing. First, DUI charges are often referred to as DWI charges in North Carolina, though both terms describe the same illegal offense of driving while intoxicated. In short, a DWI charge typically means you’ve been accused of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08%, which is illegal.
If you’re a commercial driver, you’ll find that North Carolina’s DWI laws are even stricter for you than for other drivers, as the legal limit is 0.04%. Additionally, if you’re under the age of 21, your legal BAC limit is 0.00%, so you can face criminal charges for any amount of alcohol in your system.
In some cases, you can get a DWI in North Carolina even if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is lower than the legal BAC limit. For example, if a police officer notices signs of impaired driving and you fail the field sobriety tests you’re given, you could face a DWI charge regardless of your BAC on a blood test or Breathalyzer test.
If your BAC is much higher than 0.08%, you have prior DWI convictions on your criminal record, or other grossly aggravating factors make your DWI case more serious, your DWI charge could result in significant penalties. This is why you should hire a skilled DWI defense attorney with the legal knowledge to protect your rights. Call our Greensboro, NC, law offices today to speak with trusted DWI lawyers.
What Are the Penalties of a First-Time DUI in North Carolina?
For a first-time DWI offense with no aggravating factors, you can expect your punishment to include up to $200 in fines and between 24 hours and 60 days of jail time. You may also be ordered to perform community service and undergo a substance abuse assessment to determine if you should enroll in an alcohol education program.
In addition to possible jail time and fines, your driver’s license may be suspended for one year. However, if you need to drive to work, school, or medical appointments, a Greensboro DWI lawyer can help you request limited driving privileges during your DWI license suspension period.
Other penalties to expect for a first-time DWI conviction in North Carolina include increased insurance premiums, probation, and court costs. If you’re concerned about how any of these legal consequences could affect you, you should hire an experienced DWI attorney who will fight to keep your criminal record free of an impaired driving offense. Call our Greensboro law firm today for legal representation after a DWI arrest.
How Do Aggravating Factors Affect DWI Sentencing in North Carolina?
In some cases, the penalties for a North Carolina DWI conviction can be more severe than usual, meaning you should expect to get more than the minimum jail sentence. For example, if you have aggravating factors in your DWI case, such as a BAC of 0.15% or higher or reckless driving, your fines and jail sentence will be more serious than the minimum punishment.
Grossly aggravating factors can result in even more severe consequences, including up to 24 months of jail time and $4,000 in fines. Examples of grossly aggravating factors include driving while intoxicated with a minor in the vehicle or causing a car accident that results in serious injury to someone else. Similarly, if you have one or more prior DWI convictions on your criminal record, your punishment will be more severe than for a first-time DWI offense in North Carolina.
If your DWI charge involves any aggravating factors and you’re worried about the potential consequences, you need a Greensboro DWI lawyer to represent you. Even if your DWI arrest is likely to lead to only the minimum jail sentence, you deserve the chance to avoid a DWI conviction altogether with help from a skilled Greensboro DWI attorney. Call our office for answers to any questions you have about North Carolina’s DWI laws, aggravating and mitigating factors in your case, driver’s license suspension periods, and more.
When Should You Call a Greensboro, NC, First-Time DUI Lawyer?
You should seek legal representation as soon as you realize you’re facing a DWI charge in North Carolina. Your DWI case will have several important deadlines during the court proceedings, and you don’t want to miss any of them, especially if you plan to ask for limited driving privileges. A skilled attorney will stand up for your legal rights and ensure you’re prepared for every step of your DWI case, giving you a chance to keep a DWI conviction off your criminal record.
At Kreider Attorneys At Law, we understand North Carolina’s DWI laws well enough to get the best possible results for our clients. If you’re hoping to avoid jail time, license suspension, substance abuse assessments, and other legal consequences of DWI convictions in North Carolina, quality legal counsel can help minimize your penalties. Call 336-770-2017 if you’re ready to get help fighting a DWI in North Carolina.