If the police arrested you for a DUI and it’s the second time you’ve been charged, you’re likely afraid you will lose your driver’s license.
After all, North Carolina courts are one of the strictest states when sentencing DWI offenders.
However, if you have been charged with your second DUI, there are things you can do to minimize the damage.
What Happens If I’m Convicted Of A Second DUI?
North Carolina courts sentence DUI offenders based on a sliding scale. The scale includes five levels of misdemeanor DWI—level I is the most, and level V covers less severe charges. In addition, if you already have a DWI conviction, that is considered an aggravating factor that will increase the seriousness of your charge.
However, criminal penalties are enforced separately from administrative penalties. For example, the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s primary administrative penalty revokes the offender’s driver’s license.
How long and to what extent you will lose your license depends on your actions and legal strategy.
First, if you are pulled over and refuse a breathalyzer test or your BAC is above .08%, you will lose your license for 30 days. The Department of Transportation may enforce a possible one-year suspension after a hearing.
Even if the driver isn’t convicted in court, a one-year license revocation will remain.
However, even if your license is suspended, the Department of Transportation and courts may grant you a limited driving privilege, to places such as work, after a mandatory six-month revocation period.
However, if this is your second DWI within three years, your driver’s license will be revoked for four years. You’ll need to pay to install an ignition interlock device (IID) before getting behind the wheel when you are allowed to resume driving.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Charged With A Second DUI?
A DUI conviction can put your entire life into a tailspin. At the Knox Law Center, we understand that driving is essential to your everyday life in a state such as North Carolina.
We will work to help you minimize the effects of any charges and, if possible, avoid conviction. We can also represent you in a hearing at the Department of Transportation to petition for your license back or limited driving privileges to allow you to get to work.
We offer complimentary evaluations to help you get your case started off right and for you to understand why a seasoned DUI attorney is your best bet to winning your case.
