Eric Skager Law can help you if you’ve been charged with driving while impaired (DWI) in High Point. A DWI charge is unfortunate, but you are still legally allowed to defend yourself. My firm can help you through the process and get you a fair result. Contact my firm today for a free consultation if you’d like to know more about your options.
Why Do You Need a DWI Lawyer?
When you’re pulled over and charged with DWI, it’s not the end of the road. Even though there’s stiff consequences, you have the option to defend yourself so you can reduce the penalties against you. If you want to challenge your DWI charge, having an experienced lawyer on your side is crucial. Here’s how we can help:
- Full guidance and support – We’ll walk you through every step of the legal process, ensuring you understand your rights and what to expect.
- Reviewing the evidence – We analyze breathalyzer results, field sobriety tests, bodycam footage, and police reports to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
- Strategizing – We explore every option, from challenging the validity of the traffic stop to negotiating reduced charges or seeking case dismissal.
Driving while impaired is incredibly dangerous, but again, you have legal rights. However, it’s important to understand what you’re facing and how you can work your way back.
How is DWI Punished in High Point?
Like any other city in North Carolina, High Point follows state guidelines when it comes to punishing offenses like DWI. That said, the law punishes DWI offenders pretty harshly, and it’s no surprise given how dangerous it is. Because of this, North Carolina uses a tiered system–from Level Five to Aggravated Level One–to deal out punishments based on factors like prior convictions, your BAC level, and other factors. So, depending on how impaired you are, you could be facing punishments like:
- Jail time – This is probably the most known outcome of DWI, with jail time ranging from 24 hours for Level Five charges to three years for Aggravated Level One charges. This can even be worsened if you have your child in the car with you or you’ve got previous convictions on your record.
- Fines – A DWI charge is also going to hurt you financially. A Level Five DWI is going to cost you at least $200 in fines, and that only goes up with more aggravated levels of BAC. At most, you could be facing fines of up to $10,000.
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) – If your BAC is high enough, you might also be forced to use an ignition interlock device, or IID. This device requires the driver to take a breath test before starting the vehicle, helping to prevent repeat offenses. It’s usually handed down to those with a BAC of 0.15% or higher, and must be installed at your own expense.
- License suspension – A DWI charge can lead to your licenses being suspended, which makes it difficult to drive to work or simply to fulfill your day-to-day responsibilities. Usually, your first offense of a DWI means a one year license suspension, with a second offense getting you a four year suspension. After that, your license will be permanently suspended.
- Treatment programs – You might also be forced to enroll in a substance or alcohol abuse treatment program by the judge, and it’s likely that you’ll need to present proof that you attended and passed the program.
While legal trouble is certainly part of a DWI conviction, it can also impact your personal life. For instance, it’s harder to get career opportunities, especially for jobs requiring driving. Also, it means travel restrictions that everyone in your life is going to have to work around. But again, facing penalties is only one option you have. You can also challenge the decision in court.
What’s the Legal Process for a DWI Charge in High Point?
High Point police officers take DWI seriously, since driving while impaired or intoxicated puts everyone on the road at risk. You obviously want to make good decisions, but there is an established legal process in place that you’ll run into when there’s a possible DWI:
- Arrest and charge – The whole process starts by getting pulled over by police. If the officer suspects you’re impaired, they will probably conduct field sobriety tests or ask you to take a breathalyzer. If you fail, you could be arrested, and your license may be immediately suspended.
- Court summons – You’ll receive a court date, which is your chance to challenge the charge or try to strike a deal. Missing this court date can result in additional consequences.
- Pleading – You can plead guilty and accept the penalties, but this often leads to heavy fines, license suspension, increased insurance costs, and possibly jail time. Fighting the charge with an experienced attorney can help reduce or dismiss penalties.
- Court hearing – If you decide to plead not guilty and go before the judge, you’ll be given a hearing date. Prior to that, you can reach out to my firm for help, and we’ll start putting together a strategy for you.
Every DWI case is different, but this general process outlines what you can expect if you’re charged with DWI. So, depending on the circumstances, you need to know what you can do to start putting together your defense.
What Makes a Strong Defense Against a DWI Charge?
A DWI charge doesn’t always mean an automatic conviction–there are several ways to build a strong defense. Depending on the specifics of your particular case, you will be better served by doing the following:
- Breaking procedure or protocol – Police must follow specific rules when making a DWI arrest. If the officer misread the situation or didn’t follow proper procedures during field sobriety tests, their case against you may be weaker.
- Challenging the accuracy of the results – Breathalyzers aren’t foolproof–they can give false readings due to improper calibration, medical conditions, or even certain foods. Blood tests can also be flawed if mishandled, which could make them unreliable in court.
- Getting additional evidence – If dashcam footage, surveillance videos, or witnesses tell a different story than the officer’s report, this evidence could help prove your side of the case.
- Challenging the initial stop – Police must have a valid reason to pull you over. If they didn’t, any evidence they gathered afterward–like breath tests–might not be allowed in court.
- Showing that something else caused your symptoms – Medical conditions, exhaustion, or medication can sometimes make a person seem impaired even when they’re sober. If this applies to you, it could be an important part of your defense.
- Procedural errors – Mistakes in paperwork, faulty breathalyzer records, or improper testing procedures can lead to reduced charges or even case dismissal.
A strong defense can lower penalties or even get your case dropped altogether. So, if you’re facing a DWI, getting the right legal support can make all the difference.
Get Legal Help for a DWI Charge in High Point
A DWI conviction can follow you for years, leading to fines, jail time, a suspended license, and higher insurance costs. But you have the right to fight back, and the right lawyer can help you get the best possible outcome.
At Eric Skager Law, we understand how DWI laws work and how to challenge the case. If you’ve been charged with a DWI, don’t face it alone–contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you protect your future.
