North Carolina is an implied consent state. This means that when you obtain a driver’s license, you are implicitly agreeing to a BAC test should you be suspected of DWI (This does not necessarily mean you should submit to the test). The penalties associated with DWI in North Carolina are grave, with a complex sentencing structure. Judges are required to weigh both mitigating and aggravating factors, along with personal factors like the age of the accused. For those under the age of 21, North Carolina is a “zero tolerance” state.