A Johnston County judge will decide in the near future whether to reinstate a series of DWIA DWI is a Driving While Impaired offense. It is more commonly referred to as drunk driving. In North Carolina, the term DWI is used. In other states, the terms DUI or OUI may be used. North Carolina’s DWI…
We live in an interconnected world, with social media and social networking – Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other tools – providing the world with much more information about each of us. Such an interconnected world means that information about you that you may consider “private” may, in fact, be public. Here’s a rule of thumb:…
Drug traffickingDrug trafficking is the possession, sale, or distribution of larger quantities of certain controlled substances. In North Carolina, all drug trafficking laws have mandatory minimum sentences., child pornography, and terrorism charges are the three most harshly punished crimes in the federal criminal system. If you’ve been accused of any of these crimes, you should…
The New York Times has an extensive front page article on the problem of drugged driving. While it’s long been illegal to drive while impaired – whether by alcohol or any other impairing substance – in North Carolina, law enforcement has focused on catching and prosecuting people who are impaired by alcohol. That’s because it’s…
North Carolina uses a structured sentencingStructured sentencing replaced Fair Sentencing in 1994. It created a felony sentencing chart and a misdemeanor sentencing chart in which most, but not all, punishments are imposed according to the level of the crime, and the individual’s prior record level. system for most of its criminal law. This system is…
The Fourth Amendment gives people a right against unreasonable searches and seizures: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable causeProbable cause is the standard of proof that justifies the arrest…
The North Carolina General Assembly passed a new law this week that would expand the state’s DNA database by allowing police agencies to collect DNA samples from suspects when they are charged with certain crimes. The bill authorizes law enforcement to hold people who refuse to give a sample. If charges are dropped or the…
