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.

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.