The “lookback” period for a DWI in North Carolina for a misdemeanor conviction is seven years. For a felony habitual DWI, the lookback period is ten years. North Carolina’s lookback period takes DWI convictions from other states into consideration. When arrested on DWI charges, the court will look back seven or ten years to add up offenses and increase your penalties. If your current DWI arrest is within seven years of a first DWI conviction, it will be sentenced as a second offense. If you have three or more prior DWI convictions within the past ten years, you face habitual impaired driving charges.