When you are pulled over by a police officer in Wilmington as you sit there watching in your rearview mirror as the officer walks up to your car a lot of thing are running through your head. At this point the officer has a reason to pull you over which could be a number of things such as a expired tag, speeding, weaving, etc. Once the officer comes to your car window and you roll the window down he will be observing you for things such as your slurred speech, clarity of your eyes, and smell of alcohol. Once the officer has reason to suspect that you may be intoxicated he may ask you to step out of your car to conduct a field sobriety test. If you do not pass this test, you will probably be asked to give a breath, blood, or urine test.
In North Carolina, you can be charged with DWI for driving any vehicle when your blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, is at or above legal limit OR while you are under the influence of an impairing substance. DWI is usually defined by your BAC:
21 or Older: 0.08%
Commercial drivers: 0.04%
Younger than 21: Any alcohol concentration
Prior DWI: 0.04%
If your test results show that your BAC is above the legal limit, or if you refuse to allow them to test, the officer may arrest you right there.
At this point you should be read your right and then you will be handcuffed and put into the back of a patrol car and taken to police station or sheriffs detention center. Once you arrive at the detention center you will be given the chance to blow into a alko-sensor that will determine your BAC. If you refuse to submit a breath analysis your license could be revoked for one year. Once a blood alcohol level has been determined you will be taken before a magistrate or a judge to determine if you will be given a secured or unsecured bond. If it it determined that you qualify for a unsecured bond you will be released without having to pay any money. If it determined that you are to be placed on a secured bond you will need to pay the full amount of the bond or hire a bail bondsman. Once a bond has been given we hope you will call us at Off The Hook Bail Bonds to help you or send us a bail request from our website.