What Is A DWI Stop In Charlotte, North Carolina?

By Lakota R. Denton


When a police officer stops an individual for suspicion of Driving While Impaired (DWI) in Charlotte, North Carolina, they generally engage in the following steps:

First, a police officer must observe an individual driving in a manner that is consistent with a suspected DWI in order to establish reasonable suspicion. To do this, the police officer will compare an individual's driving to established factors of DWI. These factors can be anything from crossing the centerline to almost striking another vehicle. Upon establishing reasonable suspicion for pulling an individual over, a police officer is then allowed to engage his blue lights and begin a DWI stop.

Once the driver has been pulled over for a suspected DWI, they will begin interacting with the driver in order to evaluate their suspicions for impairment. Typically, the first question will be to ask for a license and registration. Often, the police officer will ask a follow up question or two to establish intoxication, such as: "Have you been drinking tonight" or "How many drinks have you had tonight?" In addition to listening to your answer, they will be attempting to detect the odor of alcohol, slurring of words, or signs of overall impairment. If they feel that the driver is indeed potentially intoxicated, they can ask for a field sobriety test.

When you are asked to undergo field sobriety tests, you do have the right to refuse. However, if you choose to refuse, the officer will arrest you for suspicion of DWI and you will be subject to immediate revocation of your driver's license. If you do not refuse, you will be asked to submit to a variety of tests involving basic motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and mental engagement. Additionally, after the completion of these tests, the officer will ask you to blow into a portable breath test to determine the presence of alcohol.

Following a field sobriety test, if the officer believes the individual shows signs intoxication or impairment, the police officer will make an arrest for suspicion of DWI. After the arrest, the officer will typically restrain the individual, make arrangements for a tow truck or sober passenger to handle the vehicle, and drive the individual to the police station for processing.

If you have received a DWI charge, call Minick Law today to discuss your case with one of your lawyers, for free. The attorneys at Minick Law are standing by to fight for the best results following your DWI charge.






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