As a Raleigh DWI lawyer, we at the Law Office of Dewey Brinkley have vigorously represented many individuals charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).
As such, our Raleigh law firm tunes into various DWI statistics in North Carolina. For instance, according to data compiled late last year by the CDC and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), DUIs were on the rise in 2016. Secondly, according to BackgroundChecks.org, North Carolina is rated as #15 with regards to DWI-related deaths and arrests across the state; this means that there are 14 other states with worse drinking and driving habits.
If you’ve been arrested for DWI in Raleigh or Wake County, don’t become a DWI statistic and call the leading Raleigh DWI lawyer Dewey P. Brinkley today. With extensive knowledge of North Carolina DWI laws, as well as top DWI defense strategies, the Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley will carefully listen to your case and investigate the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop, arrest, and alcohol or drug detection procedures. We aim to achieve dropped or dismissed charges, a not guilty resolution, or, if the evidence is truly stacked against you, reduced or alternative sentencing.
Don’t let a DWI arrest take away your freedoms, and fight these charges by calling the Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley in Raleigh at (919) 832-0307. Free consultations are available.
DWI Statistics in North Carolina
In 2016, throughout much of Western North Carolina, the number of DWI arrests and alcohol-related accidents decreased. In Buncombe County, specifically, DWI arrests dropped by 25 percent, and in 13 other counties, the number of DWI arrests went down from 2015 to 2016. In general, however, DWI across the state remain at unfortunate heights, and some sobering statistics regarding drunk driving include:
- Between 2003 and 2012, the number of DWI-related deaths was 4,102
- Individuals aged between 21 and 34 report the highest number of drunk driving-related deaths at 8.0 for every 100,000 people (2012)
- In 2016, there were 411 drunk driving related fatalities, constituting 30% of all total traffic deaths, a 13.2% increase from 2015
- DUI arrests in North Carolina in 2016 hovered around 35,967
- Almost half of all drivers killed in collisions and tested positive for drugs also had alcohol in their system
Reducing DWI Incidents, Accidents, and Fatalities in North Carolina
In Western North Carolina, the drop in DWIs is attributed to many factors; ride-sharing, such as Uber, is often coined as a substantial contribution to the reduction in DUIs. At the same time, throughout North Carolina, there’s an upward trend in alcohol-related crash activity, and law enforcement is hoping that, in the near future, ride-sharing services that keep impaired driving down will also have an downward effect on alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.
Some other strategies and methods to reduce DWI incidents in North Carolina include, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Sobriety Checkpoints
- Ignition Interlocks
- Multi-Component Interventions and Community Mobilization
- Mass Media Campaigns
- Administrative License Revocation or Suspension
North Carolina DWI Laws
When residents of Raleigh and Wake County are arrested for a DWI, knowing the statistics has little purpose; instead, it’s wise to consider the various North Carolina DWI laws and how they may affect your case. These North Carolina DWI laws include:
- Vehicular Homicide — Driving while impaired and proximately causing the death of another constitute both involuntary manslaughter and felony death by vehicle.
- Sobriety Checkpoints — North Carolina uses sobriety checkpoints that allow law enforcement officers to stop all or predetermined vehicles to check for sobriety of the drivers.
- Primary Belt Laws — Everyone in a car in North Carolina must buckle up (G.S. 20-135.2A(a)).
- DUI Felony — Habitual DWI offenders and those committing vehicular manslaughter while DWI can be facing a felony.
- DUI Child Endangerment — Driving while impaired with a child in the car can be an aggravating factor, and the driver may be facing DWI as well as misdemeanor child abuse.
- Dram Shop — An injured person can bring a claim against a business or other third party that provided alcohol to the intoxicated person.
- Administrative License Revocation — The NC DMV can suspend or revoke your license for DWI charges.
- .08 Per Se Law — This law makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle at or above .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
How an Experienced Raleigh DWI Lawyer Can Help
If you are arrested for DWI in Raleigh or the Wake County area, it’s critical to contact an experienced and knowledgeable Raleigh DWI lawyer. The potential consequences of a guilty conviction for a DWI are extensive, including jail time, extensive fines, and a criminal record that can haunt you for years down the road.
To get the leading DWI attorney in the Raleigh area, call the Law Office of Dewey P. Brinkley today at (919) 832-0307.