Category: DUI

Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most common and preventable crimes that occur on North Carolina roads.

According to the CDC, there were over 4,000 people killed in drunk driving accidents from 2003-2011 in our state. Nationwide, one out of every three traffic deaths involves a drunk driver. And these numbers don’t even begin to count the number of injuries and arrests related to drunk driving.

Because driving drunk is considered a preventable crime, North Carolina takes it extremely seriously. But there are two sides to every DUI accident. [...]

Getting pulled over on suspicion of a DUI – driving under the influence – can be a scary experience. You definitely didn’t think you’d be stopped, and you probably assumed you weren’t that drunk to drive. But now that you’re in the moment, you can’t be sure.

So when a law enforcement officer asks you to take a breath or blood test to confirm your blood alcohol content (BAC), what should you do?

Do you refuse to take the test just in case you actually are over the legal BAC limit of 0.08? [...]

We usually associate getting pulled over in a car with a simple traffic issue – speeding, running a red light or stop sign, failing to use a turn signal, and so on. These traffic violations are considered minor offenses called infractions. When we get a minor infraction, the police officer writes us a ticket, we have to pay a fine, and there may be negative effects for our driving record or car insurance rates.

Sometimes, however, people get pulled over for a traffic violation that isn’t so minor. Instead of being pulled over [...]

Maybe you just had a few cold ones and thought you were fine to drive. Or you were surprised to be stopped at a DUI checkpoint, and even more surprised when the breathalyzer registered you as over the limit.

In North Carolina, getting a DUI is a serious offense. It can deplete your wallet, take away your freedom, and ruin your reputation.

DUI Requirements

If you’re pulled over on suspicion of a DUI, your blood alcohol content (or BAC) will be tested. The limits are as follows:

  • 21 or older:08 BAC
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You might not think much of forgetting to wear your seat belt or forgetting to renew your license plate, but these are both example of traffic violations in North Carolina. When you violate state traffic laws, you commit a criminal offense.

That said, many traffic violations are considered to be minor offenses, and are penalized by fines and added points to your license and insurance record. However, even minor traffic offenses can lead to serious penalties if you are charged with multiple infractions over a certain period of time. In addition, some types [...]