Anyone who’s had a couple of drinks and then sees the flashing lights of a police vehicle behind them knows what an uneasy feeling it causes. Some may wonder when police officers can conduct traffic stops for possible driving while intoxicated or DWI. To initiate a...
North Carolina Criminal Law Blog
A drunken friend could land you in legal trouble
Many of us have a friend who cannot hold their liquor. Even if this isn’t the case, the majority of us have been put in uncomfortable situations with a drunken individual on a night out. Often, these scenarios are trivial and easily resolved. The staff in nightclubs...
2 things that affect blood alcohol content
If the police charge you with drunk driving, they will probably base the charge on the findings of a Breathalyzer test. If they can show you tested over the limit, it is much more likely that a court will uphold the charge than if it is merely based on the officer’s...
The massive, hidden penalty you face for a DWI charge
Those accused of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses in North Carolina have to worry about substantial penalties. After a conviction or a guilty plea, a driver facing a DWI charge could end up in jail, subject to community service requirements, bound by probation...
Are marijuana impairment tests accurate?
People who are pulled over for the suspicion of impairment aren’t always intoxicated due to alcohol. It’s also possible that some individuals might have used drugs -- and the widespread use of marijuana can be problematic when trying to determine if a driver is...
How accurate are breathalyzer tests?
If you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving, more than likely the police will do three things: try to smell alcohol on your breath, have you perform a field sobriety test and have you take a breathalyzer test. U.S. police departments have used breathalyzers,...
A North Carolina DWI carries heavy penalties
Drivers in North Carolina understand the dangers of drinking and driving. This dangerous activity is illegal in all 50 states, and North Carolina delivers harsh penalties for those found driving while intoxicated (DWI). Knowing how North Carolina lawmakers issue DWI...
What happens during a drunk driving traffic stop?
Maybe you swerved because a squirrel ran into the road, or perhaps you looked into the back seat and your car drifted slightly to the left, meaning that your tire grazed the centerline in the road. All of a sudden, you see flashing lights behind you, and the officer...
What aggravating factors influence the level of the DWI charge?
Although driving while drunk is illegal in all 50 states, each state gets to set its own rules and regulations regarding impaired driving and the penalties that drivers accused of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol face. North Carolina has some of the...
North Carolina judge says blood test proves he wasn’t DWI
If you drive about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro, you will arrive in Greensville. Known as the home of East Carolina University and a number of historical sites, the city is also home to WITN. The TV station recently reported that a North Carolina District Court...