If your loved one is in the Greensboro, Winston Salem, Burlington, and Rockingham County areas and is charged with DUI/DWI, these are the main things you should know to help ensure you can get them home swiftly.
How does a DWI charge work?
For anyone over the age of 21, driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher constitutes a DWI charge, and that individual will be arrested immediately. For those under the age of 21 the stipulations are more severe, and having a BAC of anything over 0% leads to the same charge.
Sometimes, when the person driving while intoxicated is under 21, their legal guardian can also face legal consequences.
It’s important to know that DWI charges aren’t limited to just alcohol. For instance, you can be charged with a DWI for driving while impaired by prescription drugs — specifically drugs that warn against operating a vehicle while using.
Also…
- If you have an open container of alcohol in the driver’s area of the vehicle, even on the passenger side, you can be charged with a DWI.
- You can even be charged with a DWI if you aren’t the one driving. For instance, if you allow an intoxicated person to drive the vehicle, even as a passenger you could face legal consequences.
What are the jail time requirements for a DWI?
For a first time offense, there is no required jail time other than the following stipulations:
- A person cannot be released while still drunk. They must sober up first, and are usually subject to a blood test to ensure BAC has returned to safe levels.
- One cannot be released within the first 24 hours of being arrested without someone over the age of 21 available to drive them home. The one driving them home must also be sober, of course.
- After 24 hours, one can be released on their own without needing someone else to drive them home.
For second time offenses, the courts require 7 days of jail time. That mandatory jail time increases to 30 days on the third offense.
How bail bonds work for a DWI:
Most of the time, especially when it’s a first offense, the court will allow posting bail for the individual to be released from jail. The financial requirement of bail is the court’s way of ensuring the individual shows up for their arraignment court date.
When that individual shows up for the court date after posting bail, the bail money will be refunded. If the individual misses the court date, the court keeps the bail money.
The main reason to call a bondsman is when you don’t have the funds available to fully cover bail. After signing the bond agreement, the bondsman will collect a fee equal to 15% of the total bail amount, and post the rest of the bail for you.
That allows you or your loved one to be released from jail quickly and affordably.
Note that if you miss your court date, you still owe the bondsman the full bail amount he or she posted on your behalf.
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