In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive while impaired. If you have a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08% before climbing behind the wheel, officers may arrest you for violating the state’s DWI law, prompting you to seek legal advice from a DWI lawyer. Among other penalties, you may lose your driver’s license upon conviction.
To restore your driving privileges, you may have to install an ignition interlock device on every vehicle you drive. This device requires you to submit an alcohol-free breath sample to start your car. Judges in the Tar Heel State typically require ignition interlock devices in three situations:
A BAC of 0.15% or higher
If you had a BAC of 0.15% or higher at the time of your DWI arrest, an ignition interlock device is probably in your future. A judge is likely to restore limited driving privileges only after you install one of these devices in your vehicle.
Two DWI offenses in seven years
In North Carolina, repeat DWI offenders often must install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. If you have convictions for two DWI offenses in a seven-year period, this provision of state law likely applies to you, and consulting with a criminal defense lawyer could help you navigate the legal consequences.
Aggravated DWI offenses
In general, an aggravated DWI offense involves crashes, bodily injury or significant property damage. If you have a conviction for an aggravated DWI, even if it is your first one, you may need to install an interlock device on your vehicle.
Whether because of an aggravated DWI or another type of drunk driving offense, a required ignition interlock device may be both inconvenient and expensive. To avoid the requirement, you may want to mount an aggressive defense to DWI charges. For more information, please contact our law firm at Daughtry, Woodard, Lawrence, & Starling.
