Winston-Salem DWI Defense Attorney

The Cost of the Wrong Defense to Your Future when you have been acussed of arrested for DWI in North Carolina

If you have been charged with a DWI in North Carolina, you may be worried or ashamed and there may be lots of thoughts going through your mind right now. You may have questions or concerns about what will happen in court and about your future. Don’t let these concerns go unaddressed. John E. Fitzgerald is a DWI defense attorney practicing in Forsyth, Davidson, and Davie Counties in North Carolina who will be happy to take your case and answer your questions and concerns about DWI charges and penalties.

DWI Defense Lawyer John E. Fitzgerald Knows How Complex Your Case Is

DWI charges can be complicated and if you aren’t familiar with the law in North Carolina, you may have a hard time understanding what will happen in court. Here are a few facts about DWI and the North Carolina laws concerning it.

• DWI stands for Driving While Impaired and is also sometimes erroneously referred to as a DUI. A person can be convicted of DWI if they are appreciably impaired on any impairing substance, including alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs, prescription medication, or even some over the counter medications. In other words, a DWI is not limited to alcohol.

• The legal limit in North Carolina is .08. You will be arrested and charged with DWI if you blow a .08 or higher on a breathalyzer machine. You can still be charged with DWI if you blow lower than a .08 if the officer thinks that you are impaired on both alcohol and/or on some other type of impairing substance.

• DWI is a misdemeanor that comes with several levels of punishment. The circumstances surrounding your arrest, the number of prior DWI convictions you have, and other factors will determine at which level you will be sentenced if you are convicted.

• If you blow a .15 or higher on the Breathalyzer and are convicted of DWI, you will in most cases have to drive with an ignition interlock device in your car for at least a year. You will also be under other restrictions when your license is reinstated.

• Most people charged with DWI in the State of North Carolina will lose their license immediately for at least 30 days. A qualified lawyer can petition to get you limited driving privileges after 10 days of your 30 day suspension.

The Cost of the Wrong DWI Defense to your Future

All people convicted of DWI in North Carolina will lose their driver’s license for at least a year. An experienced DWI can petition the court for a driving privilege so you can drive to work, school, to the grocery store during the period of suspension if you qualify.

• A DWI conviction will cause your auto insurance rates to go up by 340% for 3 years after your conviction.

For some reason, some people think a DWI charge is a minor charge and they aren’t concerned about the punishment or the outcome of their case. As you now see, a DWI conviction can drastically affect your life for years to come. If you care about your case and about your future, it is a good idea to hire an experienced and qualified DWI lawyer to help you in court.

Attorney John E. Fitzgerald has been defending people charged with DWI in Forsyth, Davidson, and Davie Counties since 1993. If you have been charged with DWI in one of these counties, call John E. Fitzgerald and put his experience to work for you. Call (336) 804-8058 today.