If you get arrested for a DWI in North Carolina, the following events will likely occur:
1. You Will Be Arrested & Charged
If an officer has stopped you for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, or in the alternative, if you have been involved in an accident after drunk driving, officers will ask you to complete a breathalyzer or field sobriety test. If you are found to be driving while intoxicated, you will be arrested and taken to the nearest police station in a police car. At the police station, you will have your biometrics (photograph and fingerprints) taken during booking, after which you will be taken to a holding cell. In some circumstances, you may be able to leave the booking cell after bail has been paid and you are transported home. During this phase, you may spend up to 24 hours in a cell.
2. Receiving a Summons
After being charged with a DWI in North Carolina, you will receive a court summons detailing when and where you will need to appear in court. When you appear in court on your court date, you will have your DWI charges read to you, and you will be able to either plead not guilty or guilty. During this court appearance, if found guilty, you will be issued a fine and sentenced if the circumstances surrounding your DWI require it. It is often advisable to plead guilty, as this may lead to reduced sentencing as opposed to if the accused pleads non-guilty and is found guilty by the court.
3. Revocation of Your License
You can expect to have your license revoked if you are arrested and convicted of a DWI in North Carolina. Your license may be suspended from 30 days to 1 year. In some cases, drug and alcohol assessment and treatment may be required to reinstate your license. In North Carolina, drivers face two types of license revocation: civil suspension and criminal suspension.
4. Criminal Charges and Fines
When convicted of a DWI in North Carolina for a first-time charge, you may face a minimum jail sentence of 24 hours. However, in some circumstances, the court can suspend these sentences. Typically, those convicted of a first-time DWI will spend 24 hours to 6 months in jail, depending on the arrest’s circumstances. In addition to jail time, you can expect to pay a fine according to the misdemeanor scale. With a first-time DWI, you can expect to pay between $200 to $1,000, depending on the misdemeanor level. If your jail sentence is suspended, a judge can order that you serve a term of probation rather than jail time. In addition to jail time and fines, you may be ordered to participate in a drug and alcohol program or be required to serve community service.