DUI Lawyer Jacksonville, NC

If you’re charged with a DUI for the first time in North Carolina, one of the first things you’ll face is license suspension. There are two types of suspension: a civil suspension right after your arrest, and a criminal suspension if you’re convicted. If your blood alcohol level is 0.08% or higher, or if you refuse to take a breath test, your license will be revoked for 30 days right away. This happens before your case even goes to court.

If you’re later convicted of DWI, your driver’s license will be revoked for one year. However, after 10 days, you may be eligible for a limited driving privilege, which lets you drive during certain hours for work, school, or household needs. To get your license back after the suspension, you’ll need to successfully complete an alcohol assessment and any recommended treatment program.

Most DWI charges are treated as misdemeanors and fall within a five-level sentencing system, with Aggravated Level 1 being the most serious and Level 5 the least. However, there are situations where a DWI becomes a felony.

A DWI is charged as a felony in North Carolina if the driver is considered a habitual offender, which means having three or more prior DWI convictions within the past seven years. It also becomes a felony if the DWI led to an accident that caused someone’s personal injury or death.

Each prior DWI is considered an aggravating factor and can lead to harsher penalties. Because North Carolina is one of the strictest states when it comes to drunk driving laws, the legal consequences of even a single DWI conviction can be serious.

In North Carolina, DWI offenses are divided into six levels. The potential penalties depend on the facts of your case, including prior offenses and other aggravating factors.

• Level 5: Up to 60 days in jail, a fine up to $200, and a 1-year license suspension. Community service and probation may replace jail time.
• Level 4: Up to 120 days in jail and a fine up to $500. Jail can be suspended with conditions like treatment programs or community service.
• Level 3: Up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. Judges may allow probation or other alternatives.
• Level 2: 7 days to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,000. No option to avoid the minimum jail sentence.
• Level 1: 30 days to 24 months in jail and a fine up to $4,000. 
• Aggravated Level 1: Anywhere between 12 months to 36 months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines. No chance of parole or early release.

Convictions can also lead to the permanent loss of your driver’s license and the seizure of your vehicle by the state. You’ll face significant fines, court costs, and a lasting criminal record that can affect your job, housing, and future opportunities.

Your driver’s license can be suspended immediately if you're arrested for a DWI. This is known as a civil suspension, and it happens if your blood alcohol level is 0.08% or higher or if you refuse a breath test. This usually results in a 30-day license suspension right after the arrest.

If you’re convicted of DWI, your license will be revoked for 1 year on a first offense. However, you may qualify for a limited driving privilege after 10 days, which lets you drive to work, school, or medical appointments. Repeat offenders face much longer license suspensions, and in felony DWI cases, your license could be permanently revoked.

A misdemeanor DWI conviction stays on your driving record for 7 years. In felony DWI cases, the conviction stays on your record for 10 years. This means if you’re arrested again for drunk and reckless driving or other serious traffic offenses during this period, you could face more severe legal consequences.

Each additional DWI charge within this timeframe is considered a prior offense, resulting in higher fines, longer jail time, and extended license suspensions.

You can be charged with aiding and abetting a DWI if you knowingly allow someone who is impaired to drive your vehicle. For example, if you hand your keys to someone you know—or should have known—was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you could be held legally responsible.

Although this offense is typically punished as a level 5 DWI, it still counts as a conviction and carries the same punishments as any other level 5 DWI charge.

A DUI conviction cannot be expunged from your record in North Carolina. If you are found guilty of the crime, the charge will stay on your record permanently, impacting your job, housing, and future opportunities.

However, if your DUI case was dismissed or you were found not guilty, you may be eligible to have it expunged. A Jacksonville, NC expungement attorney like Aden Wilkie can help determine if you qualify for expungement and guide you through the legal process to clear your record.

Yes—if you’re facing DWI charges in North Carolina, it’s strongly recommended that you work with an experienced DWI defense attorney like Aden Wilkie. Trying to handle a DWI case on your own can lead to serious legal and financial consequences that could be avoided with the right representation. A qualified criminal defense attorney understands how to examine the details of your arrest and look for ways to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.

At The Wilkie Law Group, our legal team will investigate every part of your case, including:

• Whether there was a legal reason for the traffic citation
• If the officer properly read your Miranda rights
• How the field sobriety tests were given
• Whether the breathalyzer was calibrated and used correctly
• If the search and seizure followed proper legal procedures

These factors can make a big difference in the outcome of your DWI case. If anything was done incorrectly, it could weaken the entire case or even dismiss the charges against you.

A skilled criminal defense attorney can often help you avoid the worst penalties that come with a DUI charge in North Carolina.

While every case is different, there may be opportunities to reduce or dismiss the charges, especially if there are problems with the prosecution’s evidence, the field sobriety tests, or how the traffic stop was handled.

Even if a conviction can’t be avoided, a Jacksonville DWI lawyer at The Wilkie Law Group may be able to negotiate for alternative sentencing, such as probation, community service, or a treatment program instead of time in jail. Our defense team will look closely at every detail of your case and explore potential defenses to protect your driving privileges, your record, and your future.

The cost of a DUI lawyer in Jacksonville, NC, can vary based on several factors, including the severity of the charges, whether it’s a first offense or involves a prior DWI, and how complex the case is. Most attorneys' fees are charged at a flat rate or hourly, and expenses may include court costs.

While hiring a DUI lawyer is an investment, it can actually save you money in the long run by helping you avoid legal penalties and long-term financial consequences. To get a better estimate based on the circumstances of your case, call (910) 333-9626 to schedule a consultation with the criminal defense lawyers at The Wilkie Law Group today.