Habitual DWI Laws May Change in North Carolina

Lawmakers in North Carolina are proposing a change to DWI laws that could put people convicted of multiple DWIs back behind on the wheel.

Under current law, once an individual has been convicted of DWI four times, he or she will lose his or her driver's license for life.  The proposed changes to the law would increase that to five DWI convictions.

DWI offenders would be given another chance to keep their licenses if they stay out of trouble for ten years after a fourth conviction.  If an offender drives while impaired again, they would permanently lose their license for a fifth conviction.

Lawmakers who support the bill say that people who've gone through counseling and rehabilitation for ten years deserve to be given another chance.

Despite approval from lawmakers, law enforcement officers aren't as supportive of the bill. Assistant District Attorney Dough Carriker said the bill is unnecessary, and that it doesn't give offenders a second chance--it gives them a fifth chance.  

"From the point of view of a prosecutor, you want to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road," said Carriker. "These are people with four convictions on the road. It's not true to call this bill to give offenders a second chance. It's going to give them a fifth chance."

The bill was passed by the Senate and now heads to the House for a vote.  If the House approves the bill and the Governor doesn't veto it, the law would go into effect on December 1 of this year.

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