In North Carolina, the DWI laws are very strict. Even if it is your first offense, you will not be able to get it simply negotiated to a lower charge because you have a clean record.

On June 25th, 2020, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 562 (The Second Chance Act) into law. This bill, which passed unanimously in both chambers of the NC General Assembly, amends current law to expand some access to expunging criminal records in three limited but significant extra circumstances. In North Carolina, the term “expunction” is used interchangeably with “expungement.”

Let’s get straight to the point: no one wants to be arrested for Driving While Impaired. Unfortunately, many people find themselves ending a night of drinking in the back of a police car and getting charged with DWI. This charge carries many consequences and the process is often different from what people expect.

One of the most common reasons that people confess to possession of drugs or guns after they are found in a search is because they figure they have already lost their case.

For many people, they assume the worst when charged with DWI. While there is not one answer that applies to every case, most of our clients are not facing jail time and many are able to continue to drive legally after we finish their case. Before you worry unnecessarily, talk to a lawyer about your facts.

In the stressful first 24 hours when someone is arrested with a Greensboro criminal charge, knowing what to do right away can be critical. Friends and family want to take action as quickly as possible. There are so many things that immediately begin to happen before someone even has their first court appearance. At Aberle and Wall we use our experience as criminal defense lawyers to educate our clients, their loved ones and the community about what they can do to help. Here are steps you can take, terms you will need to know and what you can do to help in the crucial first hours.

Driving While Impaired cases cause stress and confusion for our clients, especially in the first few days. At the beginning of a case, our DWI lawyers address problems that come up when clients lose their driver’s license for 30 days. Our Greensboro DWI attorneys may need to file an appeal for an invalid revocation, ask the court for special permission for the client to drive or simply guide our client through the 30 days and help them get their license back at the end.

When a person is arrested in North Carolina, they are brought before a magistrate at the jail, who will set the conditions of pretrial release. The magistrate will then go over a set of factors to determine if the individual is a flight risk or a danger to the community.

MYTH: It’s best to refuse to blow into the breath-test machine/breathalyzer at the jail.

You might be thinking I’m being dramatic or just trying to make a point. After all, how can a simple speeding ticket be worse than being charged with possessing illegal drugs? Well, the truth is that if you get pulled over and given a Greensboro traffic ticket for speeding 26 miles per hour over the posted limit or driving faster than 89 miles per hour, you are facing more serious consequences and a more expensive case than someone charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana. 

If your driver’s license is revoked or has been suspended due to traffic violations, unpaid fines, failing to appear in court, or DWI, it can be detrimental to your daily life. Getting your driver’s license revoked can cause getting to and from work, going to the grocery store and maintaining a social life much more difficult and burdensome. Luckily, restoring your driver’s license is much easier than you think, especially with the help of a Greensboro lawyer.