DUI Law in Raleigh, North Carolina

In North Carolina, you may face the serious criminal charge of DUI for any of the following reasons:

• Driving while under the influence of any impairing substance
• Driving after consuming enough alcohol to produce an alcohol concentration level of 0.08 percent or more
• Driving with any amount of Schedule 1 controlled substance in your blood or urine
• If under 21, driving with any level of alcohol in your blood

Because of the number of serious accidents caused each year by DUI drivers, the penalties for breaking a DUI law in Raleigh, as in the rest of North Carolina, are severe and in some cases mandatory. The Law Offices of Robert J. Willis understands the effect a DUI conviction may have on your life and provides skilled representation when you are arrested for DUI in Raleigh.

DUI Laws in Raleigh are Harsh but Negotiable

North Carolina has a five-tiered system of punishment for DUI cases, with Level 5 the lightest and Level 1 the harshest. The severity of an offender’s punishment is not a closed case, however, and depends on a number of circumstances. Negative factors are known in the legal system as aggravating or grossly aggravating, while mitigating circumstances work in your favor.

If a defendant is found guilty of breaking a Raleigh DUI law, a judge will weigh two sets of circumstances and arrive at a judgment as follows:

• If the aggravating factors, such as reckless driving or speeding, outweigh the mitigating factors, the sentence will be more severe.

• If the mitigating factors, such as a clean driver’s record or slight impairment, outweigh the aggravating factors, the sentence will be lighter.

 In North Carolina, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more will automatically lead to DUI charges that may result (upon first conviction) in a $200 fine, 24 hours to 120 days in prison, and a 60 day suspension of your driver’s license. A Raliegh DUI may also affect your life adversely long after your conviction.

DUI Help is on the Way

Law enforcement officials in Wake and Chatham Counties take DUI cases very seriously and prosecute them aggressively. That is why it is important for you to seek experienced Raleigh DUI help at the Law Offices of Robert J. Willis. Contact us today.