Legal Question in DUI Law in North Carolina

5 years generally for misdemeanors: Most simple DWIs would be misdemeanors unless there are other circumstances which bump it up to a felony.

� 15‑1. Statute of limitations for misdemeanors.

The crimes of deceit and malicious mischief, and the crime of petit larceny where the value of the property does not exceed five dollars ($5.00), and all misdemeanors except malicious misdemeanors, shall be presented or found by the grand jury within two years after the commission of the same, and not afterwards: Provided, that if any indictment found within that time shall be defective, so that no judgment can be given thereon, another prosecution may be instituted for the same offense, within one year after the first shall have been abandoned by the State.

� 20‑138.1. Impaired driving.

(a) Offense. � A person commits the offense of impaired driving if he drives any vehicle upon any highway, any street, or any public vehicular area within this State:

(1) While under the influence of an impairing substance; or

(2) After having consumed sufficient alcohol that he has, at any relevant time after the driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. The results of a chemical analysis shall be deemed sufficient evidence to prove a person's alcohol concentration; or

(3) With any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance, as listed in G.S. 90‑89, or its metabolites in his blood or urine.

(a1) A person who has submitted to a chemical analysis of a blood sample, pursuant to G.S. 20‑139.1(d), may use the result in rebuttal as evidence that the person did not have, at a relevant time after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

(b) Defense Precluded. � The fact that a person charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol or a drug is not a defense to a charge under this section.

(b1) Defense Allowed. � Nothing in this section shall preclude a person from asserting that a chemical analysis result is inadmissible pursuant to G.S. 20‑139.1(b2).

(c) Pleading. � In any prosecution for impaired driving, the pleading is sufficient if it states the time and place of the alleged offense in the usual form and charges that the defendant drove a vehicle on a highway or public vehicular area while subject to an impairing substance.

(d) Sentencing Hearing and Punishment. � Impaired driving as defined in this section is a misdemeanor. Upon conviction of a defendant of impaired driving, the presiding judge shall hold a sentencing hearing and impose punishment in accordance with G.S. 20‑179.

(e) Exception. � Notwithstanding the definition of "vehicle" pursuant to G.S. 20‑4.01(49), for purposes of this section the word "vehicle" does not include a horse.

� 20‑141.4. Felony and misdemeanor death by vehicle; felony serious injury by vehicle; aggravated offenses; repeat felony death by vehicle.

(a) Repealed by Session Laws 1983, c. 435, s. 27.

(a1) Felony Death by Vehicle. � A person commits the offense of felony death by vehicle if:

(1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person,

(2) The person was engaged in the offense of impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1 or G.S. 20‑138.2, and

(3) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the proximate cause of the death.

(a2) Misdemeanor Death by Vehicle. � A person commits the offense of misdemeanor death by vehicle if:

(1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person,

(2) The person was engaged in the violation of any State law or local ordinance applying to the operation or use of a vehicle or to the regulation of traffic, other than impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1, and

(3) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the proximate cause of the death.

(a3) Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle. � A person commits the offense of felony serious injury by vehicle if:

(1) The person unintentionally causes serious injury to another person,

(2) The person was engaged in the offense of impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1 or G.S. 20‑138.2, and

(3) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the proximate cause of the serious injury.

(a4) Aggravated Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle. � A person commits the offense of aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle if:

(1) The person unintentionally causes serious injury to another person,

(2) The person was engaged in the offense of impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1 or G.S. 20‑138.2,

(3) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the proximate cause of the serious injury, and

(4) The person has a previous conviction involving impaired driving, as defined in G.S. 20‑4.01(24a), within seven years of the date of the offense.

(a5) Aggravated Felony Death by Vehicle. � A person commits the offense of aggravated felony death by vehicle if:

(1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person,

(2) The person was engaged in the offense of impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1 or G.S. 20‑138.2,

(3) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the proximate cause of the death, and

(4) The person has a previous conviction involving impaired driving, as defined in G.S. 20‑4.01(24a), within seven years of the date of the offense.

(a6) Repeat Felony Death by Vehicle Offender. � A person commits the offense of repeat felony death by vehicle if:

(1) The person commits an offense under subsection (a1) or subsection (a5) of this section; and

(2) The person has a previous conviction under:

a. Subsection (a1) of this section;

b. Subsection (a5) of this section; or

c. G.S. 14‑17 or G.S. 14‑18, and the basis of the conviction was the unintentional death of another person while engaged in the offense of impaired driving under G.S. 20‑138.1 or G.S. 20‑138.2.

The pleading and proof of previous convictions shall be in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 15A‑928.

(b) Punishments. � Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, the following classifications apply to the offenses set forth in this section:

(1) Repeat felony death by vehicle is a Class B2 felony.

(1a) Aggravated felony death by vehicle is a Class D felony. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 15A‑1340.17, the court shall sentence the defendant in the aggravated range of the appropriate Prior Record Level.

(2) Felony death by vehicle is a Class D felony. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 15A‑1340.17, intermediate punishment is authorized for a defendant who is a Prior Record Level I offender.

(3) Aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle is a Class E felony.

(4) Felony serious injury by vehicle is a Class F felony.

(5) Misdemeanor death by vehicle is a Class A1 misdemeanor.

(c) No Double Prosecutions. � No person who has been placed in jeopardy upon a charge of death by vehicle may be prosecuted for the offense of manslaughter arising out of the same death; and no person who has been placed in jeopardy upon a charge of manslaughter may be prosecuted for death by vehicle arising out of the same death.