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Alcohol and Drug Limits
- 1/20If you are stopped for Driving While Impaired (DWI), the penalty for the first offense is
First time Driving While Impaired (DWI) offenders in North Carolina face a mandatory one year license revocation. The law aims to deter repeat offenses and improve road safety.
If you are under 21 caught with alcohol in system while driving
North Carolina law revokes the license of any under 21 driver with any measurable alcohol or drug presence, even without impairment.
If you refused the breath test when stopped, the consequence is
Refusing a chemical breath or blood test results in immediate 30 day suspension and a mandatory one year Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revocation.
If you blow Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent. Immediate license consequence is
A Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more leads to immediate 30 day revocation, even before court judgment, and further penalties may follow.
If you are convicted of a second Driving While Impaired (DWI) in three years, the penalty is
A second Driving While Impaired (DWI) offense within three years of the first results in a mandatory four year license revocation in North Carolina.
If you are convicted of a third Driving While Impaired (DWI) and one was within the last five years, the penalty is
A third Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction where one occurred within five years triggers permanent loss of driving privileges.
If you are caught driving after three Driving While Impaired (DWI) convictions in seven years, the charge is
A fourth Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction within seven years is charged as a felony and carries permanent license revocation.
If a driver under 21 is caught with open alcohol, the suspension period is
Possessing or attempting to purchase alcohol under 21 results in a one year driver license revocation in North Carolina.
If you install an ignition interlock after a Driving While Impaired (DWI), the restricted BAC limit is
Following Driving While Impaired (DWI) reinstatement, your license may include a restriction requiring Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) under 0.04 for legal operation.
If you are restoring your license after a second Driving While Impaired (DWI), the legal BAC limit is
After a second Driving While Impaired (DWI)conviction, North Carolina requires a 0.00% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) restriction, meaning no measurable alcohol while driving.
If your license was revoked and you were caught driving again, the additional penalty is
If you are convicted of Driving While Impaired (DWI) while license is already revoked, courts can order your vehicle to be confiscated and sold.
If you are caught drinking in a commercial vehicle, the law also applies to interior seating areas and the penalty is
It is illegal to have any alcohol (open or closed) in the passenger area of a commercial vehicle, even if parked.
If you drink alcohol while operating a vehicle, the violation under state law is
Drivers are prohibited from consuming any alcoholic beverage while operating a vehicle. Even sipping is a legal offense.
If you are underage with a fake ID, the license consequence is
Using a false ID to purchase or obtain alcohol will lead to a one year revocation of driving privileges.
If you give alcohol to a minor. Driving related penalty is
Giving alcohol to someone under 21 can result in a one year revocation of the giver is driver license.
If you are underage and assist a friend in buying alcohol, the legal penalty is
Aiding another underage person in purchasing alcohol triggers a one year license suspension, even if you do not drink.
If your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) registers 0.15 percent, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ignition interlock device requirement after reinstatement is
A high Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or more will require installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle before reinstatement.
If you are asked to attend a safety class after Driving While Impaired (DWI), the purpose of the requirement is
North Carolina may require an alcohol safety program and assessment before allowing reinstatement after a Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction.
If police suspect drugged driving and no alcohol is detected, the basis for the charge is
Impairment can be proven through observed behavior and poor driving, even without a chemical test or specific drug result.
At a checkpoint, if you admit to drinking one beer, the officers authority to proceed is
At Driving While Impaired (DWI) checkpoints, officers can lawfully test drivers showing signs of impairment or who admit drinking any alcohol.