DWI Expungement

DWI Expungement – Can I Get My Driving While Impaired Arrest in North Carolina Expunged?

Item: Powers Law Firm PA
Rating: 5
Author: J.R.

DWI Expungement Lawyers in Charlotte, North Carolina

DWI in North Carolina is a serious offense. Impaired driving can have lasting consequences. If convicted, a DWI arrest can result in a permanent criminal record, cause problems with your driver license, and may even make it hard to find and keep a good job.

The social stigma associated with allegations of NC DWI charges tends to be both substantial and pervasive. In the public eye, it’s easy to avoid “drunk driving” charges in big cities like Charlotte or Raleigh or Greensboro, where there is mass transit and options like UBER and Lyft.

That often isn’t a fair assessment of people charged with DWI in North Carolina, given the legal standard is not “drunk driving” but rather the substantially lower “appreciable impairment” and/or a BAC Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 or higher.

Learn More: DWI DUI FAQs

In fact, the NC DWI laws do not refer to the offense of impaired driving as “drunk driving” or “drunken driving.” You do not have to be drunk to be convicted of DWI in North Carolina. Indeed, you don’t even have to consume alcohol to face criminal charges for impaired driving.

Recent Changes to the North Carolina Expunction Laws

“The North Carolina Expunction Laws have gone through what defense attorneys would accurately characterize as seismic shifts in the last few years. I’ve seen changes to the NC expungement laws that I would have never expected in my 25+ year legal career as a Defense Attorney.” Bill Powers, Criminal Defense Lawyer Charlotte NC

The logic for an expunction is this: Even allegations of criminal charges, both felony or misdemeanor, including “drunk driving” or “drunken driving,” carry consequences.

DWI in North Carolina clearly is not the same thing as “drunk driving.” Yet, the general public still assumes you were drunk. The logic is that you can avoid arrest for DWI (South Carolina DUI charges), with little effort.

Even the United States Supreme Court confuses impaired driving, as reported by the ABA American Bar Association Journal in Birchfield v. North Dakota. Here is Justice Alito’s opinion explaining DWI blood tests, search warrants, and Constitutional rights:

“We conclude that the Fourth Amendment permits warrantless breath tests incident to arrests for drunk driving.”

The learned jurist, concerned with the protection of the Constitutional and individual rights, which was ultimately done in that particular case, conflates being charged with DWI with being drunk.

What is Expungement in North Carolina?

Expungement or expunction (the terms are used interchangeably by defense lawyers) refers to having the record of criminal charges, and arrest for criminal charges (DWI in North Carolina), purged.

What is the difference between DUI charges and DWI charges?

An NC expunction destroys, by Order of the Court, a criminal record. The expungement of criminal charges restores the accused, under NC criminal laws, to the same status they enjoyed before the institution of criminal charges brought through UNIFORM CITATION, warrant, or criminal summons.

“There are noteworthy exceptions, but if your criminal record has been expunged, you may truthfully, and without the penalty of perjury, deny criminal charges.” Bill Powers

** Please consult with legal counsel. Federal immigration laws and NC criminal law N.C.G.S. 15A-151 are deceptively complex and may require disclosure of criminal charges, even those properly expunged.

Unfortunately, many accused of a misdemeanor or felony charge mistakenly assume expungement is always available. The general public regularly and incorrectly assumes:

They are entitled to an expungement of all criminal charges, felony or misdemeanor; and,
The condition for an expunction is the passage of time.

That is NOT the law in North Carolina. In fact, the opportunity to expunge your criminal record in North Carolina is limited and narrowly defined.

North Carolina General Statutes set forth with specificity when an expunction is allowed and when criminal charges (including NC DWI charges) are not eligible for expungement.

Put simply, not everyone in the state of North Carolina is eligible for an expungement after NC DWI charges. That’s true too for some misdemeanor or felony criminal charges in North Carolina. It depends on the type of criminal charges, relative age of the accused at the time of charges, and the disposition of criminal charges.

If eligible attorneys file a Petition with the Court , it is not automatic. Even if you win DWI charges or allegations of DWI are dismissed by the Court (or prosecutor), the Petition is required.

What Are 3 Common Expunctions in North Carolina?

Criminal Charges found NOT GUILTY verdict, Dismissal by the Court or District Attorney
1^st offenders, non-violent charges, +15 years in the past
1^st offenders, under 18 or 22, depending on criminal charges

Top 9 Ways to Beat DWI Charges

Expunctions and Expungements in North Carolina include, but are not limited to:

Juvenile Records – N.C.G.S. Chapter 7B-3200
Non-Violent Felony – Under 18 - N.C.G.S. Chapter 15A-145.4
Misdemeanor Criminal Charges – Under Age of 18 - N.C.G.S. Chapter 15A-145.1
Non-Violent Criminal Charges – N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5
Not Guilty / Charges Dismissed – N.C.G.S. 15A-146

Is my permanent record clear?

The record is destroyed, including the court file, charging paperwork, arrest photographs, police reports, video evidence, computer records, and all documentation of criminal charges.

An NC expunction requires a Court Order, where the Clerk of Court and the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) are ordered by the Judge to destroy court records of the charges.

Expunction in North Carolina is different than “sealing” a record.

After expungement, a private file is kept (in Raleigh) documenting the type of charge subject to the expunction, your name, and the case numbers for all NC expunctions that have been granted. That record of expungement is not public.

Do NOT assume expunction or expungement in North Carolina is available in every circumstance.

But for a narrow set of circumstances, expunction of DWI charges North Carolina cannot be granted by the Court. . .even if the Judge wishes they could provide relief.

“That’s why it’s important to retain a NC DWI lawyer to determine whether a legal or factual basis exists to challenge allegations of DWI. If convicted, and as the NC DWI laws presently stand, expunging charges is problematic at best.” Bill Powers, Criminal Defense Attorney and DWI Defense Attorney Charlotte NC

Now is the time to call.

Learn more about a NC DWI expungement. Call Bill Powers at 877-462-3841. You may email Bill Powers at: Bill@342HELP.com

Helpful Information About DWI Charges

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★★★★★

I am so fortunate to have had Bill Powers on my case. Upon our first meeting, Bill insisted that through the emotions of anger, sadness, confusion, and betrayal that I remain resilient. He was available to answer questions with researched, logical, truthful answers throughout our two year stretch together. I went to any lengths for my case because he won my trust almost immediately... J.R.

My daughter had a second DUI and when it all seemed hopeless, Bill was able to get the charges dropped. This is a man who is extremely knowledgeable, yet still keeps his integrity which was impressive to me. He handles himself with dignity. If you hire him, you will have the best of the best, along with his expansive intellect and wisdom about the law. Lisa

Bill Powers’ staff has handled several traffic citations for me over the years, and they exceeded my expectations each and every time. Would highly recommend anyone faced with a traffic citation or court case contact his office and they will handle it from there. M.C.

Bill and his staff are flat out great. I (unfortunately) was a repeat customer after a string of tickets. These guys not only took care of the initial ticket for me, but went the extra mile and reduced my problems from 3 to just 1 (very minor one) on the same day I called back! I would recommend them to anyone. A.R.

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