Driving While Impaired New Law

Effective July 1, 2000, every Driving While Impaired offender, that blows a .16 or greater and is granted a limited driving privilege, will be required to equip their vehicle with a functioning ignition interlock system of a type approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Prior to starting the vehicle, the Defendant will have to blow into a Breathalyzer device and press an identification code button on the device in a particular time sequence. If the driver has alcohol in his system equal to .01, the vehicle will not start. The driver will also have to blow in the device at some point between 5 and 15 minutes into any trip that they take in their car. They will also have to blow in the device at some point between 15 to 40 minutes in the trip. The driver will also be subject to additional tests if their driving trip exceeds 60 minutes. The closest location to install these devices is currently Asheboro, North Carolina.

 TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

SCHEDULE OF POINT VALUES

Passing stopped school bus 5

Reckless driving 4

Hit and run, property damage only 4

Following too close 4

Driving on wrong side of road 4

Illegal passing 4

Running through stop sign 3

Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour 3

Failing to yield right-of-way 3

Running through red light 3

No driver?s license or license expired more than one year 3

Failure to stop for siren 3

Driving through safety zone 3

No liability insurance 3

Failure to report accident where such report is required 3

Speeding in a school zone in excess of the posted school zone speed limit 3

All other moving violations 2

Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle 1

The North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) was enacted by the General Assembly to reward safe drivers with the lowest possible insurance rates. Drivers who are convicted of moving traffic violations and/or cause accidents will be charged higher premiums in accordance with their driving records. A messsage from Insurance Commissioner Jim Long SDIP points are charged as follows for convictions and at-fault accidents occurring during the Experience Period: 12 Manslaughter or Negligent Homicide Prearranged Highway Racing or Lending a Car for Prearranged Highway Racing Hit-and-Run Bodily Injury or Death Driving with Blood-Alcohol Level .08 or More Driving a Commercial Vehicle with Blood-Alcohol Level .04 or More Driving While Impaired Transporting Illegal Intoxicating Liquor for Sale   10 Highway Racing or Lending a Car for Highway Racing Speeding to Elude Arrest   8 Driving During Revocation or Suspension of License or Registration   4 Reckless Driving Hit-and-Run Property Damage Only Passing a Stopped School Bus Speeding in Excess of 75 mph when the Speed Limit is Less than 70 mph Speeding in Excess of 80 mph when the Speed Limit is 70 mph or Greater Driving by a Person Less than Age 21 after Consuming Alcohol or Drugs   3 At-Fault Accident that Occurs Before January 1, 1998, Resulting in Death, or Bodily Injury*, or Property Damage Only of $2,000 or More At-Fault Accident that Occurs On or After January 1, 1998, Resulting in Death, or Bodily Injury*in Excess of $1,500, or Property Damage of $2,500 or More**   2 Illegal Passing Following Too Closely Driving on Wrong Side of Road At-Fault Accident that Occurs Before January 1, 1998, Resulting in Property Damage in Excess of $1,000, but less than $2,000 At-Fault Accident that Occurs On or After January 1, 1998, Resulting in Property Damage in Excess of $1,500, but less than $2,500** Speeding More than 10 mph Over the Speed Limit Provided the Total Speed is in Excess of 55 mph, but less than 76 mph Speeding 10 mph or Less in Excess of Speed Limit in a Speed Zone of 55 mph or Greater   1 All Other Moving Violations At-Fault Accident That Occurs Before January 1, 1998, Resulting in Property Damage Only of $1,000 or less At-Fault Accident That Occurs On or After January 1, 1998, Resulting in Bodily Injury* of $1,500 or less, or Property Damage of $1,500 or Less** Speeding 10 mph or Less in Excess of Speed Limit of Less than 55 mph