- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
North Carolina is a state that tends to harshly penalize DWI offenders. Many police departments throughout the state dedicate special resources to apprehending people who drive under the influence, and Kernersville is no exception. The Kernersville Police Department is part of a multi-agency DWI task force that conducts checkpoints, searches for offenders, and participates in anti-drunk-driving campaigns.
Whether you’re caught by the task force or by a Kernersville officer on a routine patrol, a DWI arrest can have lifelong consequences. The Greenwood Law criminal defense team has extensive experience advocating for clients charged with DWI. We’ll strive to get your charges dismissed, and if they aren’t, we’ll do everything we can to soften their impact on your present and future.
If you’re arrested for DWI and taken to the Kernersville City Jail, you’ll be charged with a certain “level” of DWI. In North Carolina, there are five levels, with Level 1 being the most serious and Level 5 being the least.
You might wonder how the court determines what level you’ll be charged with. Your charge is determined by the number of aggravating factors (circumstances that make the offense more severe) and mitigating factors (circumstances that make it less severe). For example, having a very high BAC is an aggravating factor, and driving lawfully (except for being under the influence) at the time of arrest is a mitigating factor.
Here’s a brief rundown of the North Carolina DWI levels and their associated sentences:
Most first-time offenders are not charged with Level 1 or Level 2 DWIs. People who are assigned Level 1 or Level 2 usually fall into one or more of these categories:
Notably, while judges can usually suspend jail sentences for lower-level DWIs, they may not suspend the minimum sentences for Level 1 and Level 2 DWIs.
A DWI conviction — even a conviction for a lower-level DWI — can have major consequences. Here’s a look at how a conviction can impact your life.
You might look at the fines for DWI convictions and think that the financial consequences of a conviction aren’t terribly bad. However, the fine is just a small part of the financial impact of a DWI. A conviction also comes with expenses like these:
Unfortunately, in an effort to save money, some people avoid hiring an attorney for a DWI charge. However, the cost of a conviction is almost always much greater than the cost of hiring an attorney. When you choose to work with us, you’re investing in yourself and your future. It might prove to be one of the most important investments you’ll ever make.
For some lower-level DWIs, you may be able to do community service in lieu of jail time. In other cases, you might end up serving jail time. Many people are used to hearing about long jail or prison terms, so spending 30 or even 60 days in jail might not sound like much.
However, even short jail terms like these can have significant consequences. You’ll likely not be able to continue working at your job while serving a jail sentence. If you cannot work for a month or more, you may lose your job. You might not be able to afford to pay rent or make your mortgage payment, and that can lead to a snowball effect of potentially devastating consequences.
In North Carolina, a DWI conviction will lead to your license being revoked. Usually, that revocation lasts one year, but if you have prior DWI convictions, it may be longer. We may be able to arrange for you to have a limited driving privilege, which means that you’ll be permitted to drive to work and other essential places.
Having a revoked driver’s license (even if you’re able to get a limited driving privilege) can seriously limit your freedom. It’s easy to take for granted your ability to jump into your car and go anywhere, but if you’re convicted of a DWI, you may not be able to do that for a year or more. Of course, some people make the choice to drive even with a revoked license. If you’re caught doing this, you’ll be charged with another crime.
In some cases, if you had a high BAC (usually defined as 0.15 or greater) when you were arrested, you’ll need to have an ignition interlock device installed. This device tests your breath for alcohol before allowing you to start your car. If you’re required to install an interlock, you will be responsible for leasing the device and paying for its installation and maintenance.
DWIs don’t carry the extreme stigma that some offenses (like sex crimes) do. However, many people believe a DWI reflects poorly on your character. An arrest or conviction also might cause conflict within your close relationships, which only adds to the extreme stress that often comes with this kind of charge.
Not all jobs will be impacted by a DWI conviction. However, in some cases (especially if your job requires you to drive), your employment may be terminated when you’re arrested or after a conviction.
Having a DWI on your record also may make it harder to find employment. Many careers requiring you to drive will categorically exclude anyone with a DWI conviction. Even jobs that don’t require you to drive may not hire you if you have a recent DWI.
Many people charged with DWI become consumed with doubt, uncertainty, and even shame. You might find yourself wishing you could go back in time and undo the arrest. Of course, this isn’t an option, but your next best choice is to hire a defense attorney who can craft a detailed, customized, and strong defense.
At Greenwood Law, we take pride in doing exactly that for every one of our clients. If you’ve been arrested and charged with DWI, don’t wait — the sooner you contact us, the faster we can get to work on your defense. Give us a call or get in touch online to book your free initial consultation.
