A new bill making its way through the North Carolina House and Senate seeks to curb the ability of DWI offenders to drive drunk after a conviction. Advocates including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and other law enforcement officials are calling on legislators to require Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) for all drivers who have been convicted of operating a vehicle above the legal limit of 0.08% blood alcohol content. The devices do not allow the vehicle to start unless the driver is completely sober.
Currently, the law requires IIDs for one year for offenders with prior DWI convictions as well as for 1st-time DWI offenders convicted of driving with a BAC of 0.15% or higher. A growing number of states, however, are now requiring the devices for all offenders regardless of the circumstances of the crime. Senate Bill 619 and House Bill 877, if they pass, would add North Carolina to that list.
Since 2007, approximately 144,000 attempted car starts were stopped by IID devices because alcohol was detected on the breath of the driver. In 15,000 of those cases, the BAC of the driver registered at 0.08% or higher. Critics point out that IIDs would be unaffordable for many offenders. According to Tom Apodaca, the Senate Rules Committee Chairman, the bill may be passed this summer.
Seasoned DWI Defense Lawyers
If you have been arrested and accused of DWI in North Carolina, you will be facing a number of harsh penalties, including jail time, expensive fines, and potentially the installation of an expensive and restricting IID device. Having a DWI on your criminal record can have long-lasting implications, which is why you should absolutely not delay in contacting an experienced DWI attorney to defend you against your charges. Dummit Fradin was built on DWI cases, and with more than 30 years of experience, you can be confident that we have what it takes to bring you the most favorable outcome possible. We’re not afraid to go to court if that is what it will take to best protect your rights and future.
Contact us today to put an aggressive, no-nonsense DWI attorney on your side. We have three convenient office locations in High Point, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro.