I discussed previously the rights a North Carolina driver has to refuse to 1) answer any questions during a DWI (driving while impaired) stop/investigation, 2) refuse to participate in any field sobriety tests, and 3) refuse to blow into the portable, handheld breathalyzer unit that officers often carry in their squad cars (in NC, this is the Alco-Sensor device). All...
Continue ReadingContinued from previous post: Rule #3: You do not have to blow into a portable/handheld breathalyzer unit, and you almost certainly should not. Many people mistakenly believe that if an officer asks an individual suspected of driving while impaired, or driving after drinking alcohol, that the driver is required to blow into the portable breathalyzer on the scene. In...
Continue ReadingContinuing from the previous post on your rights during a DWI stop and investigation, in which you may be suspected of driving while impaired or other alcohol-related driving offenses. Rule #2: You do not have to participate in any field sobriety tests, and you almost certainly should not. Many people mistakenly believe that they have no choice but to...
Continue ReadingThere are many misconceptions regarding the rights of a driver who is stopped in Raleigh or elsewhere in Wake County (or anywhere in North Carolina), in a case in which a routine traffic stop escalates into an investigation for DWI (Driving While Impaired) or related drunk driving offense. I’ll break this down into some basic rules, over a series...
Continue ReadingAttorney Ben Hiltzheimer has over a decade of litigation experience on cases ranging from DWIs and drug cases to complex felonies including armed robbery, sex offenses, and first degree murder. Hiltzheimer has a reputation as a fierce advocate, with a track record of achieving excellent results in front of judges and juries.
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