DWI / DUI Resources
Get information and insights into DWI and DUI law from the NC DWI Defense Center.
NC DWI and DUI Resources
A driving while impaired (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) arrest can mean jail time and court fines, loss of driving privileges, increased insurance rates, employment consequences, and financial uncertainty.
These issues are magnified by the fact that DWI/DUI law is one of the most complex areas of criminal law in the State of North Carolina.
To help you understand DWI / DUI law and prepare your for your appearance in court.
I Need A Lawyer For...
I Need A Lawyer In...
DUI Practice Areas...
DWI / DUI
NC DWI Guy Episode 30: How Long Does a DWI Stay on My Record
A common question for clients charged with DWI is “how long is this going to stay on my record?” The answer to this question is “it depends.”
How Do I Get My Mugshot Removed from the Internet in NC?
Having an old mug shot floating around on the Internet is a recurring embarrassment, especially if the state dismissed the charge or you weren’t guilty.
NC DWI Guy #16: Ignition Interlock Explained
Have a question about Ignition Interlock? Jacob Harding, Regional Program Development Coordinator for ALCOLOCK, has the answer! Jacob responds to FAQs regarding ignition interlock in comprehensive fashion. If you want to develop your ignition interlock knowledge to...
NC DWI FAQ
Consequences of a DWI Will I go to jail if I am convicted of a DWI in North Carolina? What can a judge require of me if I'm convicted of a DWI? Will I be allowed to drive after getting a DWI? When can I drive after a DWI? Will getting a DWI affect my job? Will getting...
DWI Basics and Definitions
What is a 30-Day Civil Revocation? A 30-Day Civil Revocation is a civil punishment resulting from a DWI. Although typically a revocation of a license requires a conviction for a DWI, in North Carolina, a person can have their license revoked for the following reasons:...
Limited Driving Privileges
In what situations will I have to install an Interlock Ignition Device in my car? An individual will have to install an Interlock Ignition Device in their car, regardless of what level they are sentenced to, if they register a 0.15 BAC or higher. The Interlock device...
Was My DWI Charge / Stop Legal?
Should I have been read my Miranda Rights during my DWI Arrest? Many people are shocked when an officer arrests a person without reading Miranda rights and wonder about the legal impact of the failure to advise Miranda rights. Generally, a suspect’s oral or written...
Dismissing DWI / Fighting DWI Charge
Can I Get the District Attorney to Dismiss My DWI Charge? Many people wonder if a district attorney (DA) will dismiss a DWI in North Carolina, if it is the person’s first offense, or if they have a perfect driving record. In North Carolina it is extremely rare for a...
Consequences of a DWI
Our law firm is in the business of providing information to clients. Information is power. Knowing the consequences that can stem from a DWI charge allows for preparation and planning. Living in fear of the consequences of a charge is not helpful. Moreover, before...
I Got a DWI, What Do I Do? Take Extreme Ownership
The client who owns his DWI can look at the circumstances which led to the charge and decide never to allow them to happen again.
Miranda Rights and DWI
What if the police didn’t read my Miranda Rights during my DWI Arrest? Many people are shocked when an officer arrests a person without reading Miranda rights and wonder about the legal impact of the failure to advise Miranda rights. Generally, a suspect’s oral or...
Courtroom Etiquette
What Color To Wear To Court
While the color of the outfit you have decided to wear to your court hearing is probably that furthest thing from your mind as you prepare to appear in court, it is nevertheless highly important. Books have been written on the subtle cues color and appearance can have...
What Happens If You’re Late to Court (And What to Do If You Will Be)
One of the surest ways to lose the respect of the judge and courtroom, and to show disrespect to the court proceedings is to be late to your court date.
Tips For Testifying In Court: Keep Your Emotions In Check
Although Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise can get away with it in the movies, getting angry and raising your voice will land you in more trouble with the judge. For disrespectful behavior, the judge can hold you in contempt of court, which can result in a fine or, in...
How To Speak In Court: Take A Deep Breath
Going to court for the first time can be nerve-wracking, but don’t let the stress get too much for you to handle. The way you comport yourself in court can do a lot for your case, and can show the judge that you are a mature, reasonable adult who is respectful of him...
What To Wear To Court
Knowing what to wear to court, how to behave in court, and how to talk to a judge are extremely important (yet often forgotten) elements in your court appearance. Making a great impression in the courtroom and putting your best foot forward to the judge and jury can...
What Should I Wear to Court?
If you have not spent much time in a courtroom before your scheduled hearing, you may be wondering “What should I wear to court?” The answer, though not difficult, is important to get right, because to dress poorly can have unfortunate and unforeseen consequences...
Can You Wear Jeans to Court?
For those of us who are not lawyers or bailiffs or judges, going to court is not a normal part of our daily lives. Whether we are called into court as the defendant, a witness, or a member of the jury, it is important to know how you are expected to dress when you go...
11 Tips First Court Appearance
11 Tips For Your First Court Appearance Your court date is set. Now what? The courtroom is an intimidating place, especially if it’s your first appearance. There are questions you’re probably asking, like “what should I wear” and “what do I say?”. The whole...
How To Talk To A Judge
Going to court can be an intimidating experience, especially if you’ve never been to court before. You may worry about what to wear, where to sit, and how to talk to a judge in court. These worries can make you dread the entire process. Luckily, you don’t need to...
Courtroom Etiquette: What Should I Wear to Court & How Should I Behave?
Two questions we frequently hear at Minick Law, P.C. are: what should I wear to court? and how should I behave in the courtroom? Not too long ago we published blog posts about clothing and behavioral etiquette in the courtroom, including style, decorum, and general...
How Should I Behave In Court?
For many people, having to go to court for jury duty is a very unpleasant experience. However, for a criminal defendant, it is even worse due to the potential negative consequences of a possible conviction. Because courtrooms can be both intimidating and nerve racking...
Limited Driving Privilege
NC DWI Guy #16: Ignition Interlock Explained
Have a question about Ignition Interlock? Jacob Harding, Regional Program Development Coordinator for ALCOLOCK, has the answer! Jacob responds to FAQs regarding ignition interlock in comprehensive fashion. If you want to develop your ignition interlock knowledge to...
When Can You Drive After a DWI?
Dealing with the aftermath of a DWI? Here are 7 facts you need to know about when you can drive again: If a person’s license is revoked for 30 days as a result of a DWI, such a civil revocation can be contested in Court if a notice requesting a hearing on the 30 day...
What are the Consequences of a DWI in North Carolina?
Our law firm is in the business of providing information to clients. Information is power. Knowing the consequences that can stem from a DWI charge allows for preparation and planning. Living in fear of the consequences of a charge is not helpful. Moreover, before...
What Is An Ignition Interlock in NC?
Image property of Smart Start North Carolina lawmakers have the responsibility to enact laws to keep our roads safe. Part of that is to eliminate the risk of drunk driving wherever possible. One of the tools that the legislature has given the NC DMV is the...
How to Get a Limited Driving Privilege in NC after a DWI in SC
Being convicted of a DWI brings with it a litany of consequences. However, for most people, the primary concern is their licensing privileges and the ability to drive. This becomes even more complicated when you are convicted of a DWI in South Carolina but...
Building A Legal Practice
Chapter 7: Cornerstone: A Culture of Help
In the service industry, a consumer is basing his buying/hiring decision primarily on how helpful you are. In law, where the product you are selling is information, the client expects that you know what you are supposed to know in order to achieve the desired legal...
Chapter 6: Think and Act Positive
Becoming a successful business owner begins with your belief that your business, your product and your people can be great. Not mediocre. GREAT! Great businesses are built on possibilities, on what could be. Positive thinking is creative and energizing....
Answering the Question: How Do We Do What We Do?
A company’s culture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneur's job is to build the foundation. - Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb Every business has a modus operandi. This way of operating is the habitual way in which business is...
Chapter 4. Beginning With the End in Mind: What Does Your Business Look Like Without You in It
“Where do you see yourself in five years?” is a FAQ in a job interview. Even though it is frequently asked many interviewees don’t have a good answer to this question. Part of the reason for the difficultly of responding to this question is concern that...
Chapter 3: Communicating Your Mission To Others
"There is no more powerful engine driving an organization toward excellence and long-range success than an attractive, worthwhile, achievable vision for the future, widely shared." -Burt Nanus Once you have thought about the “why” of your business and...
A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top DUI Attorneys in the United States
James Minick is the co-author of A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top DUI Attorneys in the United States. This is meant to be a guidebook for anyone facing a DWI charge and its consequences.