DWI Step-by-Step-ARP Addiction Recovery & Prevention

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DWI Step-by-Step

The NC DWI Process

Person drives after consuming alcohol or other impairing substance	Driving While Impaired
Driver attracts attention of police officer who stops the motorist.	Stopped by Police	Police can only stop a motorist if there is probable cause. In this case the officer suspects driver is impaired.
Police administers sobriety test	Sobriety Test
Test shows driver is impaired	Driver Arrested Vehicle Secured	Driver taken to police station for breathalyzer test
Driver charged with DWI	BAC Greater than 0.08%
Driver 21 + may still be charged with DWI if signs of impairment	BAC less than 0.08% “or impaired by some other substance”	< 21 years old, driver will be charged with alcohol or substance consumption
Driver given court date	DWI
Police officer, defense attorney and driver provide evidence	Court	Judge decides if guilty or not guilty
Sentencing/sanction imposed by judge	Guilty	Driving record and other factors taken into consideration
Judge mandates SA Assessment, education or treatment as condition of probation	Substance Abuse Assessment (learn about the assessment process)	Driver chooses assessment provider. Fee is $100.
If driver fails to have assessment, driver’s license remains revoked	Failure to Comply	Driver will be arrested if caught Driving While License Revoked (DWLR)
Low Substance Abuse Risk Driver recommended to Alcohol and Drug Education Traffic School (ADETS) Driver attends 16 hours of education	Assessment Result ADETS OR Treatment (visit our Treatment page to learn more)	High Substance Abuse Risk Driver must be referred for treatment Driver is placed in one of these levels: 1. 20 hrs for at least 30 days 2. 40 hrs for at least 60 days 3. 90 hrs Intensive Outpatient for at least 90 days 4. In-patient
Driver completes all recommendations, including payment of fees to provider	Assessor’s Recommendations Completed	Assessor provides form 508 which verifies driver completed all requirements. Driver is now eligible to have stop removed from DMV record for this conviction
Completed form is sent to Substance Abuse Services office. It is reviewed before sending to NC DMV	508 Forwarded by Provider	508 is electronically submitted to DMV as the only acceptable evidence of completion of requirements.
DMV will post to driving record to remove the stop	508 Form posted to Driver’s DMV record	DWI offense now shows as complete

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