The Repercussions Of Getting A DWI Charge In Gastonia, NC

By Lakota R. Denton


After receiving a DWI charge, most people are unaware of the consequences of a DWI charge in North Carolina. Generally, DWI charges not only carry potential criminal punishments, but also hefty financial costs and revocation of driving privileges.

Losing your license can be a major consequence of a DWI charge. Once the automatic thirty day revocation period has been instated, it may be possible to receive a limited driving privilege after only 10 days, that would allow one to commute only to work or school for the remainder of the thirty day revocation period. After that thirty day civil revocation period, your license active until the DWI charged has been resolved by the court, either by a conviction or dismissal. If a conviction is handed down, your license will be revoked for a period of 1 year, effective immediately following the conviction. Again it is possible to obtain a limited driving privilege for purposes like school, work etc.. for the remainder of the year.

After either pleading guilty or being convicted of a DWI, an individual is going to be faced with a variety of costs. First, the judge will issue a fine for being found guilty of a DWI. This fine could range anywhere from $200 for a first-time offense to up to $10,000 for a felony DWI (typically a DWI that involves a death or a repeat DWI offender). Additionally, on top of the fine, the individual will also have to pay court costs. Since each court has their own individual procedure for determining court costs, this fee is hard to predict. However, it is generally several hundred dollars. Additionally, there may be miscellaneous costs associated with a DWI such as: fees for alcohol assessments and treatment, limited driving privilege fees, and license reinstatement fees.

Receiving a DWI conviction can carry with it the increase of your car insurance by up to four hundred percent. Your insurance company has the legal right to pursue this, as they are not only in the business of protecting their interests (as you may now be viewed as a 'higher risk' client), as well as the fact that a DWI charge levies twelve points onto your license. This fee increase reflects the fact that one driving point can add a noticeable amount to your premium, and so with 12 additional points, you can be sure your rates will dramatically increase following the DWI. The points you receive from your DWI charge will stay on your license for three years, as long as no other points are added during that time.

An experienced criminal defense lawyer can be in an invaluable asset in receiving the best outcome from a DWI charge. Minick Law's experienced attorneys are ready to help, and are standing by to offer a free consultation on your case. Contact them today.






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