I Was Arrested for DWI in Raleigh, Is There a Good Defense Strategy?
A DWI conviction in Raleigh can result in jail time, thousands in fines, and cause a person to lose their driver’s license, and that is just the beginning. Your DWI will adversely impact many aspects of your life, so it is worth the time and energy to contest your drunken or drugged driving test.
Getting Bailed Out of a Raleigh Jail
If you are arrested for a DWI in Raleigh, your driver’s license will be taken on the spot, and you will be taken to jail. The amount of time you spend in jail hinges on how quickly you are processed and how soon you enlist a DUI lawyer in Raleigh or rely on a family member.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety Inmate Search: https://www.ncdps.gov/DPS-Services/Crime-Data/Offender-Search
Wake County Sheriff’s Office Inmate List: http://p2c.wakeso.net/jailinmates.aspx
North Carolina Inmate Search: https://www.nc.gov/services/offender-search
Wake Correctional Center
1000 Rock Quarry Rd.,
Raleigh, NC 27610
Wake County Detention Center
3301 Hammond Rd.,
Raleigh, NC 27610
Central Prison
1300 Western Blvd.,
Raleigh, NC 27606
After you are released from jail and informed of your charges, you should consult with a DWI lawyer in Raleigh immediately.
Depending on the facts of your case, the state of North Carolina will charge you with a misdemeanor or a felony DWI. Most DWIs are misdemeanors, but there are five levels each with different punitive consequences.
Levels of DWI in Raleigh from the most severe to the least:
Level I- Minimum 30 days in jail up to two years; fine up to $4,000; license revocation; mandatory drug or alcohol abuse treatment
Level II-Minimum seven days up to six months; fine up the $2,000; license revocation
Level III-Minimum 72 hours in jail up to six months; fine up to $1,000; license suspension for 90 days
Level IV-Minimum 48 hours in jail up to 120 days; license suspension for 60 days
Level V-Minimum 24 hours in jail up to 60 days; fine up to $200; license suspended for 30 days
Felony DWI- This charge applies to DWI offenders that have three or more DWI convictions within a seven-year period. A felony DWI carries a minimum of one year in jail, fines and substance abuse.
The above information is from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Is There a Defense for My DWI in Raleigh?
Considering the penalties listed above, you should consult with a criminal defense lawyer in Raleigh. There is a defense strategy for every case; you just need the best one for you. Let USAttorneys.com connect you with an experienced and devoted lawyer.
Our team of DWI lawyers will look at all aspects of your arrest and ensure the arresting officer did not violate your rights and correctly administered a breathalyzer. To find the best defense strategy, a defense attorney will ask the following
Did the arresting officer have sufficient probable cause to conduct a stop?
Did an officer have cause to request field sobriety tests?
Do you suffer from a physical condition that hindered your performance in field sobriety tests?
Were your constitutional rights violated?
Are an officer’s observations of intoxication accurate?
Do you suffer a medical condition that can give a false positive for a breathalyzer like acid reflux or diabetes?
Have the breathalyzers been maintained and calibrated?
Were you wrongfully arrested? Or, did an officer used excessive force during your arrest? If so, you should speak with a police brutality lawyer in North Carolina.
With an effective defense, a DWI conviction will not go on your record. We recommend you consult with an attorney as soon after your arrest as possible and allow them to begin working in your case. Your first consultation is free, and you won’t be put on the spot.