Tuesday, 6 January 2015

The Severity Of A DWI Charge In NC Depends On Several Types Of Factors

By Lance Williams


Driving While Impaired (DWI) is one of the few charges in Charlotte, North Carolina that has its own sentencing/punishment structure. When imposing punishment on a DWI case in North Carolina, the judge must consider the presence of: (1) Grossly Aggravating Factors; (2) Aggravating Factors; and (3) Mitigating Factors.

Grossly aggravating factors can include: A prior DWI conviction within seven years of the arrest date on the present offense, if the driver caused serious injury, or If the driver had a passenger under the age of 18 years in the car, a passenger with the mental development of a child under the age of 18 years in the car, or a passenger with a physical disability preventing unaided exit from the vehicle.

An aggravating factor is something that significantly increases the severity of the offense. These are some typical examples: a blood alcohol content of 0.015 percent or greater, dangerous driving behavior, driving habits that resulted in personal injury or property damage upwards of a thousand dollars. Aggravating factors can also include: driving with a revoked license, a prior DWI conviction more than 7 years ago, speeding from, eluding or fleeing arrest, exceeding more than 30mph over the posted speed limit, passing a school bus that is stopped, and a number of additional factors.

Judges will also look at 'Mitigating Factors' in these cases. They weigh things like: a blood alcohol content of less than 0.09 percent, (considered slight impairment), otherwise safe and normal driving habits, a driving record free from any violations, and in the case where impairment results from lawfully prescribed and administered medications at the correct dosage.

Receiving a DWI in Charlotte, North Carolina can be very challenging situation. Let the experienced attorneys at Minick Law help guide you through the process, and help you get the best possible outcome for your case.




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