Driving under the influence of alcohol can be a very dangerous proposition. Besides the risk of death or serious injury from a crash, you may get pulled over by a police officer and charged with driving under the influence, also known as a DUI. Because drunk driving is considered to be such a serious crime, the penalties for it can be costly and involve prison time and heavy fines. North Carolina is one state that has taken a very serious approach to drunk driving, and they are also unique in the way in which they rate the severity of a DUI. If you are facing a DUI in North Carolina, here is what you can expect to see from the NC DUI Laws.
Understanding the NC DUI Laws
North Carolina grades the severity of a DUI offense on a leveled scale from one to five, with one being the most severe and five being the least severe. The determination of what level of offense will be levied is up to the judge in the case, who will make a determination based on factors such as:
- Whether or not you have previous DUI offenses,
- How intoxicated you were based on the blood alcohol content, and
- Whether or not there were minors or other passengers in the vehicle.
Because of this leveling, you will find that your penalties for a first offense can vary widely, and there is no standard as to what should be assigned. For example:
- The prison time penalties for a level 5 first offense range from 24 hours to 60 days in prison, and a level one can range from 30 days to two years in prison.
- The fines assessed for a level five first offense are set to be $200 or less, while a level 1 first offense is set at not more than $4,000 in total fines.
As you can see, depending on the conditions of the actual arrest, the mitigating circumstances brought up in court, and the mood or inclination of the judge, your potential liability can be quite severe, even if you have never been caught drunk driving before.
You may also have your North Carolina driver’s license suspended for up to six months for a first offense, or the judge may decide to issue you a conditional license that will allow you to drive to work or school, but nowhere else. Your vehicle may be impounded for up to ten days, and you will have to attend a DUI school as well as possible probation after the court case and prison sentence are completed.
Getting Help
North Carolina takes DUI charges very seriously and you should do. It is imperative you get the help of a qualified criminal attorney when you are accused of a DUI in order to have the best chance of walking away without severe DUI penalties.
