Carteret County, NC DWI Lawyer

If you have been charged with suspicion of impaired or drunk driving in North Carolina, you are in a very difficult situation. You are facing a combination of financial hardships, legal challenges and social pressures that could include suspension of all driving privileges, fines, jail and loss of job.

Under the law you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. To receive a favorable outcome, however, you must challenge the charges filed against you. And to get the best possible disposition, you need to retain the services of an experienced and qualified criminal law attorney.

Carteret County North Carolina DWI Lawyer James Cummings understands that you have concerns about what happens after an arrest for driving while intoxicated in North Carolina. He will listen to your account of the arrest, ask about your goals and needs, and then give you an open and honest assessment of your situation. James Cummings will treat you with respect while building a defense strategy aimed at getting your case reduced or dismissed.

While no result can be guaranteed, Beaufort NC DWI Attorney James Cummings has an excellent record of successfully defending his clients against charges of alcohol or drug related traffic offenses. He will protect your rights and provide you with dedicated representation.

Request a Free NC DWI Consultation

To begin getting help with your license and your criminal case, contact Carteret County DWI Lawyer James Cummings. He will review your case for free and then outline your legal options and his fee. To schedule a meeting, call (252) 728-1208 or complete the secure on-line form to the left. There is no obligation and the initial meeting is free, so act now.

Time is Critical

Fighting a DWI in North Carolina is a complex process. It actually involves both a civil case involving your license and criminal charges resolved in the courts. Within 10 days of an arrest for drunk driving in Carteret County, you could lose all driving privileges. The district attorney, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the police are sharing information with the intent of securing a conviction.

You need someone on your side; and the sooner you act, the more time Beaufort DWI Lawyer James Cummings has to try to save your license and prepare your defense.

For the best result, contact Attorney James Cummings and request a free consultation.

Penalties for NC DWI

North Carolina DWI laws establish a blood alcohol content of 0.08% as the legal threshold for impairment. It must be noted though that a law enforcement officer can initiate a DWI arrest based on a suspicion of impairment from alcohol or drugs.

If convicted of DWI, the judge will use a series of guidelines to determine penalties. These include a review of your driving record and consideration of Grossly Aggravating Factors, Aggravating Factors and Mitigating Factors. This is followed by the application of one of five levels of severity in penalties. Which factors and which level of punishment used depend on the details of your arrest, such as whether you had a very high BAC level, caused an accident and have any prior DWI arrests.

The extent of the penalties can include fines, court costs, assessments, suspension of license, probation, community service, enrollment in an alcohol treatment program, substantially higher insurance premiums and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device.

With a conviction for DWI in Carteret County, you will have a criminal arrest record. This can be discovered with a quick background check and could impact your credit score, cause you to lose your current job, reduce future employment options and keep you from gaining government security clearance.

Because the consequences of a DWI arrest can negatively impact the rest of your life, you need to aggressively fight the charges and try to keep your record clean. For complete drunk driving defense, contact Carteret County DWI Attorney James Cummings.

Loss of Driver’s License for DWI in NC

The State of North Carolina actually has two opportunities to suspend or revoke your driver’s license. One is based on the outcome of the criminal charges. If convicted, the courts can take your license. The second situation involves a civil action filed by the Department of Motor Vehicles after an arrest for driving while intoxicated in Carteret County. These are two very distinct cases.

You can challenge the DMV suspension by petitioning for a special hearing. You must take action within 10 days of being notified by the DMV or your driving privileges will be automatically suspended.

Carteret County NC DWI Lawyer James Cummings can help you with both the criminal charges and the DMV hearing. He has successfully fought for his clients driving privileges, and he can petition the DMV on your behalf. Time is very limited, so contact Attorney James Cummings immediately.

Regarding Out-of-State Drivers

North Carolina is a popular tourist destination, especially the Atlantic coast. An out-of-state driver is still liable for criminal charges filed in North Carolina. The state will share information on an arrest with other states, meaning that the penalties for license suspension will transfer to a home state.

To learn more about the specifics of a case and the legal remedies, contact Attorney James Cummings.

About Cummings & Cummings

The law firm concentrates on criminal law with a focus on helping those accused of DWI, DUI, drunk driving, impaired driving and alcohol related traffic offenses in the state of North Carolina.

Principal of the law firm, James Cummings is committed to providing his clients with experienced, professional legal guidance for a fair fee. He will take the time to learn about your needs and he will involve you with decisions made throughout the disposition of your case.

Carteret County DWI Attorney James Cummings received an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and graduated cum laude from Campbell Law School, where he was a member of the National Trial Team, Honor Court and the Order of Kivett. He is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina State Bar Association, the Carteret County Bar Association, the 3-B Bar, N.C. Bar Association, the Inn of Court and the Judicial District Bar Association.

Get the Help You Deserve

To request a free, no obligation consultation, contact Carteret County NC DWI Attorney James Cummings today. Complete the form to the left or call (252) 728-1208 to schedule an appointment.