What Can Happen After Receiving A DWI Charge In Gastonia, North Carolina

By Lakota R. Denton


There are a lot of unforeseen consequences of being charged with a DWI in Gastonia, NC. In addition to the criminal punishments, You can lose your license and be saddled with expensive fees.

One of the largest consequences of getting a DWI for an individual is having their license revoked. This revocation comes in two phases. First, after being initially charged with a DWI, an individual is faced with an automatic thirty-day Civil Revocation period. However, ten days after the charge, it is possible for an individual to obtain a limited driving privilege that would allow them to drive for certain purposes (school, work, etc.) for the rest of the thirty-day Civil Revocation period. After the Civil Revocation period expires, the individual's license is in full force and effect until the DWI has been resolved (either with a conviction or a not guilty verdict). The second phase of license revocation occurs after a conviction has been obtained. As such, an individual who has been found guilty of a first time DWI will have their license revoked for a one-year period immediately following their conviction. However, in most cases, a limited driving privilege can yet again be obtained to allow driving for certain purposes (work, school, etc.) during that one-year period.

After either pleading guilty or being convicted of a DWI, an individual is going to be faced with a variety of costs. First, the judge will issue a fine for being found guilty of a DWI. This fine could range anywhere from $200 for a first-time offense to up to $10,000 for a felony DWI (typically a DWI that involves a death or a repeat DWI offender). Additionally, on top of the fine, the individual will also have to pay court costs. Since each court has their own individual procedure for determining court costs, this fee is hard to predict. However, it is generally several hundred dollars. Additionally, there may be miscellaneous costs associated with a DWI such as: fees for alcohol assessments and treatment, limited driving privilege fees, and license reinstatement fees.

One harsh truth about a DWI charge is that if convicted, your insurance company has the legal right to raise your insurance premium up to 400%. They do this not only to protect their financial interests (as people with a DWI conviction are categorized as higher risk), but also because a DWI conviction puts 12 points on your driving record. For reference, a speeding ticket puts one insurance point on your record, which often results in a substantial increase in an insurance premium. Given this, its easy to see how getting 12 points at one time on your driving record can drive your insurance payment through the roof. If no other points are levied to your license during this time, the points received by your DWI charge will remain on your license for a period of three years.

The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Minick Law can help you or someone you know navigate your DWI case in reaching the best outcome. Contact them today for a free consultation.






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