How Could Tiger Woods be Arrested for DUI When He Wasn’t Drunk? Raleigh DWI Lawyer Explains

Most people think that you can only be charged with DWI if you were caught driving while intoxicated with alcohol. What they fail to realize, however, is that the cause of the “intoxication” can include any number of over-the-counter medication.

This was the lesson learned from Tiger Woods’ recent run-in with the law. According to reports, the golf champion was arrested back in May under suspicion of driving under the influence in Florida. Based on the dash-cam footage and the official reports, his Mercedes Benz had two flat tires and some other damage when police officers approached his car on the side of the road at 2:03AM.

Woods did not appear to have a clear idea of what was going on or where he was, leading the officers to have him perform a serious of roadside sobriety tests. All indications initially led them to believe that he was drunk, except for the fact that the breath alcohol test he took showed he had no signs of alcohol in his system. Read more from this blog. http://bit.ly/2wlKnIO

Raleigh DWI Lawyer Says Wake County Tops List of Most New Year’s Eve DWI Arrests

Two of the NC triangle counties may have had too much fun over the holidays, according to recent data. New North Carolina Department of Transportation data shows it to be among the top five counties with the most DWI arrests during the yuletide season.

Over the holidays, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” anti-DWI four-week campaign yielded 2,400 alcohol-related offenders, while another 264 were drug-related.

The top offenders during this campaign included Wake County (247), Guilford County (177), Mecklenberg County (162), Cumberland County (117), and Forsyth County (110). Beyond these numbers, what this reveals is an overabundance of DWI charges confronting the courts–and these figures are from just one season in the entire year. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2pQd10J

DWI for First-Time Offenders in North Carolina

If you are caught driving drunk, you may be charged with DWI (Driving While Impaired andthe repercussions can be quite severe. It is therefore advised that you seek the help of a competent DWI lawyer as soon as possible after you are charged.

Possible Penalties for DWI in North Carolina

State laws in North Carolina contain provisions detailing the legal process and possible consequences of drunk driving, also known as “Driving While Impaired” (DWI) or in many states  as “Driving Under the Influence” (DUI).

What Happens If You Are Suspected of DWI?

A sure-fire way to get arrested on suspicion of DWI is for you to be caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equal to or more than 0.08. Before you are taken in for this crime, you’re likely to undergo a series of procedures or “sobriety tests” administered to you by the arresting officer.

First-time Offenders: When You Need a DWI Lawyer

Some people believe that it is not necessary to hire an attorney if you are a first-time offender accused of Driving While Impaired (DWI). While there may be a few types of cases for which you may not need a lawyer, it is always best to work with DWI lawyer, even if it is your first offense.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a DWI Lawyer

If you've been charged with a DWI, then you should hire a DWI lawyer to represent you. The penalties of being convicted for DWI can be severe, resulting in lost wages, fines and fees, a suspended license, a requirement to attend DWI school or even jail time in some cases. 

Questions for a DWI Attorney

If you have been charged with DWI, then the assistance of an attorney might be needed in court. Proper legal representation can help reduce the charges and its resulting penalties. There are a few things that you want to look for when you begin looking for an attorney to ensure that you will find the best representation possible.

Possible Outcomes of a DWI in North Carolina

A person who has been arrested and charged with a DWI for the first time may worry about the penalties they face. In North Carolina, the penalties will depend on the severity of the charge against them. There are six levels, ranging from level 5 (the lowest) to aggravated level 1 (A1, the highest level) , that dictate the potential penalties a person can face.

Getting Stopped for DWI

Traffic enforcement officials must have a reason for pulling you over, such as a traffic law violation. This can include many possibilities such as speeding, failure to come to a complete stop, a faulty taillight, but they may also pull you over with a reasonable suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI), such as erratic lane changing, weaving or crossing the yellow line.

Stepping Out of the Car in a Police Stop

In any police stop, officers won't ask you to step out of the car unless they see a probable cause to do so. Knowing this will protect you from self-incrimination.

Despite what you see on TV, police seldom ask motorists to step out of the car. And they must have a valid reason to stop a car in the first place. Therefore, police are always on the lookout for traffic violations like improper lane changes, speeding, excessive swerving, and so on.

HB 812: Where are the Whiskey Plates?

House Bill 812, sponsored by James Boles, Jr. (R-District 52, most of Moore County), has been stuck in limbo for more than a year. Its last known action, according to online bill tracker Open States, was for reference to the Committee on Transportation. Did the House quietly drop the bill on "whiskey plates?"

HB 812 is a proposal for special license plates to be issued to drivers with DWI offenses. As of today, only four states have enacted laws authorizing the use of these whiskey plates, known in popular parlance. If passed (which is highly unlikely due to the lack of updates), the driver will have to carry a whiskey plate for seven years from the day his driving privileges were restored.

The bill was proposed to make identification of drivers with DWI offenses easier for law enforcement and the public. However, according to Raleigh-based DWI lawyer Seth Blum, the proposal harkens back to colonial times where public shaming was a preferred punishment. There's little gain in tagging those with DWI history compared with proven systems like interlock devices.

For Mr. Blum, the current sanctions in place, such as community service and one-year suspension of driving privileges, are sufficient. The bill, he writes, "kicks DWI defendants when they are already down." It's safe to say that, at some point during the bill's journey to becoming a law, it may have attracted serious flak from other lawmakers, if not the public.

Seth Blum is an experienced DWI attorney in Raleigh, NC. To contact him please call 919-832-7700 or visit www.KurtzandBlum.com.

How to Obtain a Limited Driving Privilege

In Wake County, if you get arrested for a DWI, you face a 30-day minimum revocation of your driver’s license at the outset of your case. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you may be eligible to apply for a limited driving privilege after the first 10 days of revocation. The limited driving privilege is only allowed for work or school purposes.

Requirements for the limited driving privilege

To petition the court for a limited driving privilege, you’ll need to fulfill two requirements. First, complete a substance abuse assessment conducted by an approved service provider in Wake County and submit the results of your assessment to court. Second, follow the recommendation of the assessment, which can be to enroll in substance abuse education or treatment. You are not required to complete the recommended education or treatment to obtain your limited driving privilege.

The assessment will cost you some money, and you can expect the recommended education or treatment to cost you some more. Make sure to keep a record of all transactions and paperwork as they will prove useful.

What to do next

Once you’ve decided to proceed with the recommendation, give your attorney a copy of your court paperwork (including your citation) from your DWI case, a certified copy of your DMV driving record, and a copy of the results of your blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of your arrest.

The law firm of Kurtz & Blum vigorously defends their client's rights. To contact a Raleigh DWI lawyer please call 919-832-7700.

The Consequences of DWI Convictions

Being convicted of a driving while impaired (DWI) crime not only tarnishes a person’s reputation but also takes a toll on one’s finances. A convicted DWI offender faces significant expenses related to different aspects. Here are two notable ways how DWI convictions can become costly:

Pricey Fines

Aside from jail time, DWI convictions may entail considerable fines that can reach up to the maximum of $10,000. Prior DWI offenses and other aggravating factors, such as speeding while attempting to elude officers, can raise these fines. It all depends on the level or extent of felony committed as determined by the court.

Higher Insurance Premiums

Your insurance premiums can shoot up following a DWI conviction as insurance companies are likely to consider you a high-risk driver. Such a remark on your record can increase your insurance premiums by up to 400% and remain that way for as long as seven years. North Carolina implements a Safe Driver Incentive Plan or (SDIP), where repeat instances of DWI can drive up your premiums even further.

Aside from these financial burdens, you could be facing the loss of driving privileges. To mitigate such penalties, you might want to hire a competent Raleigh DWI lawyer whose experience and skill in criminal defense should prove invaluable.

Vehicle Seizure following a DWI Arrest

It can be quite shocking to have your car seized following a DWI arrest. You should know that North Carolina has made a vehicle subject to seizure if you continue to drive while your license is already revoked because of a prior DWI. You should also know that a specific provision of North Carolina clearly provides for an enhanced speedy trial in such a case.

Dealing with DWI Arrest with Raleigh Lawyer's Help

Being arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) is a serious matter in North Carolina, even for first-time offenders. The person arrested will automatically have his or her license revoked for a period of 30 days. If convicted of DWI, the person can face jail time, and a minimum of a one year suspension of their driver’s license.

In North Carolina, a person who is pulled over by an officer has the right to refuse to take the breathalyzer test. In some cases, however, a person pulled over on suspicion of DWI and who refuses to take the test may face a license suspension of up to a year. In addition, the person suspected of DWI may even be asked to take further tests like a blood chemical analysis, which may put him in even hotter water if he has other substances in his system.

If a person submits to a breathalyzer test and it registers a figure higher than the blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent, he will have his license revoked for at least 30 days. However, he can get limited driving privileges with the help of a Raleigh attorney. With limited driving privileges, he can still report for work or pick up loved ones as needed and get his or her license reinstated after 30 days.