What counties in North Carolina have dedicated DWI courts?

The North Carolina legislature has tried many things to help reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road and especially to help prevent drunk driving accidents. One way the state works to help elevate this issue is through DWI treatment courts. According to the North Carolina Judicial Branch, these special DWI courts exist in six counties.

The goal of such a court is to help address the behavior behind the issue of drunk driving. In this type of court, you would go through alcohol treatment as a way to avoid the DWI charge. This is similar to existing drug courts. The idea is to help with the substance abuse issue that often is at the heart of a drunk driving case.

A typical court focuses on punishment. If you go to a regular court, the outcome is usually losing your driver’s license, paying fines and perhaps even doing time in jail. With the DWI court, the focus is instead of changing your behavior. It is the hope that through changing your behavior instead of punishing you that you will not drive while under the influence ever again.

By helping you to get assistance and care for your alcohol abuse issues, the state aims to help reduce the likelihood of you ending up with another DWI charge. In addition, getting help can improve your overall life and help you to stop destructive behaviors associated with drinking alcohol. It also can help to keep the roads safe for others who could be hurt by you driving drunk. This information is for education and is not legal advice.