Why Choose A Dummit Fradin DWI Attorney for Your Defense?
With Us, You Have A Team of DWI Professionals on Your Side
There is no “I” in “team,” and there is no “I” in the phrase “great legal defense.” At Dummit Fradin, you’re not just hiring one DUI lawyer, you are hiring a team of experienced knowledgeable professionals each doing their best for you. We have only one goal in mind, to give you the best possible outcome for your DWI case.
Our founder, Clarke Dummit, built this firm by fighting DWI charges. Today, he remains one of the leading voices for DWI defense throughout North Carolina. With an extensive history of litigating cases in the courtroom, our criminal defense attorneys have the confidence to offer you quality representation. Whether you reside in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, or High Point, we’re here for you.
Over the years, our attorneys have protected clients from criminal sentences and license penalties, and have helped many drivers restore their license after a revocation. DWI is a complicated charge. We have tested and proven defense strategies that work. Meet with a highly-rated and reliable DUI attorney at one of our office locations in Winston-Salem or Greensboro today.
3 Great Locations in North Carolina
Our law firm has convenient locations in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, both of which accept DWI cases. Our third location in Winston-Salem is a dedicated Family Law Practice. Call any of our locations to set up your free DWI consultation, or submit the form below.
Not Looking for DWI Information?
Find Your Acclaimed DUI Lawyer
A Primer on NC DWI Charges:
You will need 4 things:
- A valid driver’s license at the time of the charge
- A DL 123 insurance form (proof of insurance)
- An alcohol assessment from an approved alcohol agency
- If you have non-standard work hours, we will need a letter on your work letterhead stating such
Then, on the eleventh day after your charge, your DUI Lawyer will go to the proper Courthouse in your County and try to get your limited driving privilege order signed by a judge. You do not have to appear for this stage of the process.
For a first offense, most people will face:
- a misdemeanor conviction,
- a 30 to 60-day suspended jail sentence,
- limited driving privileges for a year,
- 24 to 48 hours of community service, and
- somewhere between $300 and $800 in court costs and fines.
If there are any aggravating factors, like children in the car, the sentencing will become harsher, but for a first offense with no aggravating factors, this is the most likely scenario.
- If a second offense occurs within a year, most people will be sentenced to an aggravated level one, or A-1 (which is a mandatory one-year prison time)
- If a second offense occurs after one year of the first conviction, they could face vehicle forfeiture and no driving privileges.
- If a second offense is after three years of the first conviction, then there may be up to a four-year license suspension.
- A second conviction after seven years drops down to a level 2, and their license will likely only be suspended for one year.
So, while a conviction stays on a criminal record forever, the penalties for a second conviction lessen over time.
In short, no, North Carolina isn’t a State that makes a distinction between DWI, DUI, OUI, or OWI. In states where there is a difference, DWI has the higher standard and is the more serious charge. However, in North Carolina, DWI is the only legal standard for determining intoxication.
When stopped, and before you are taken to the testing room downtown:
- Remain polite,
- Avoid making any incriminating statements,
- Request an attorney as early in the process as possible.
Unfortunately, most individuals cooperate with law enforcement. They take field sobriety tests and provide statements. These actions are voluntary and recorded by body cameras. It’s important to note that they rarely present the accused in a favorable light, which can have serious and negative repercussions in court.
There is a constitutional right not to incriminate oneself, which applies even when stopped for a DWI. However, this right is waived once the individual enters the breath testing room. Implied consent applies to the breathalyzer test administered in the breath room—not the initial tests conducted on-site. The DMV will administratively suspend the driver’s license of someone who refuses a breathalyzer in the breath room for one year in addition to any criminal consequences stemming from the DWI.
Still Have Questions About
North Carolina DWI?
Aggressive, No-Nonsense Approach to DWI Defense
Over the years, we’ve built a substantial practice by consistently and successfully defending our clients against every type of DWI charge. This is the law firm to come to when you want an effective DUI lawyer. Whether it’s your first offense or your third, we stand ready to tackle your case. We offer an aggressive, no-nonsense approach that produces results where they matter: in the courtroom.
A DWI charge does not have to mean a conviction, and we cannot stress that enough. Here at Dummit Fradin, our Attorneys believe that every single Driving While Impaired case is worth defending. And, defending well. Every client deserves a solid, knowledgeable defense.
Challenging Your Charges on Every Level
Our first course of action as we prepare to defend your case is to find out if the officer who pulled you over had reasonable articulable suspicion. This is crucial information that we immediately look for as experienced criminal attorneys in NC DWI law. If there was no reasonable articulable suspicion, we find out the true reason you were pulled over and whether or not that violates your rights.
Your rights are our concern, and your defense Team will work tirelessly to protect them. They’ll go above and beyond to make sure you’re not being charged for a crime you never should have been pulled over for. We routinely challenge the admissibility of the State’s evidence including field sobriety tests, breath tests, and blood tests. Law enforcement officers are required to follow field test procedures. We have attorneys who are trained and certified to conduct these very same tests, so we know what mistakes to look for and what procedures must be followed to protect your rights. Our firm can and will challenge your charges on every level.
Asking Questions & Challenging Evidence
We thoroughly investigate the details of your case, and we fight without reservation to make sure you’re getting the absolute best possible results. Our DUI lawyers know what questions to ask and take the time to analyze every second of the police video and audio recordings. After your attorney reviews your case information thoroughly, they’ll compare it to the officer’s report and testimony and use it to explore your defense options. The officer’s report will have to match the evidence as to what happened during the stop.
In addition, it’s worth asking if the testing equipment was properly calibrated and maintained. Remember, it’s the burden of the State of North Carolina to prove any criminal case against you. The State even has to prove that you were actually driving the car.
Have More Questions About NC DWIs?
Go In-Depth With Our Dedicated DWI Blog:
