Britt Springer, Criminal Defense Attorney.

Traffic tickets can become much more expensive than just a court fine. Britt Springer has the experience and ability to get you the reduction you need to prevent a possible suspension and an increase on your insurance premiums. In most cases, you won’t ever need to appear in court. 

Common Traffic Violations

• Following too closely 
• Driving on wrong side of road 
• Illegal passing 
• Failure to yield right of way to pedestrian 
• Running stop sign or red light 
• Speeding 
• Failure to yield right of way 
• Driving while License Revoked (DWLR)
• Failure to stop for siren 
• Driving through safety zone 
• No Insurance 
• Failure to properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt 
• Passing a stopped school bus 
• Aggressive Driving 
• Reckless Driving 
• Hit and Run

Driving While Impaired (DWI) charge is one of the most serious allegations a driver can face in North Carolina. The potential consequences of a DWI could include hefty fines, community service hours, a suspended license, jail time, and even a felony charge, depending on the circumstances. While DWIs fall into distinct patterns, each case is unique and presents its own challenges and opportunities. An experienced DWI lawyer will request available video, challenging the state's Intox breathalyzer machine's reliability. Look into an unreliable officer's pattern of arrests, and interviewing witnesses who believe the client was not impaired.   

Under North Carolina law, DWI's can be alcohol or drug-related. Proved by impairment of unlawful drug or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above. 

DWI charges may involve one or more of the following:

• Multiple DWI
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Breath & Blood Tests
• Field Sobriety Tests
• Suspended License
• Interlock System

College is the time in a person’s life when they experience the most growth; it is also a time filled with the possibility of the most mistakes. With the temptations of drinking and drugs found across college campuses, some will find themselves charged with a criminal offense or called into a student disciplinary hearing through the school conduct department. The school sanctions can be brought against you, even if the activity took place separately and apart from campus life. If you are a student in the High Country and have been accused or charged with underage drinking, DWI, possession of drugs or paraphernalia, assault, sexual battery, theft, or other offenses; contact Britt Springer, Attorney at Law, and let her experience within student conduct help you through the proceedings of a school’s disciplinary hearing.

Colleges in the High Country

• Appalachian State University
• Lees-McRae College
• Caldwell Community College 
• Wilkes Community College

Despite being less serious than a felony, misdemeanors can be difficult and frustrating if not handled properly.  To ensure that your best interests are followed, and your rights are protected, it can greatly benefit you to have a criminal defense lawyer represent you for any criminal charges, including misdemeanors. 

Common Misdemeanor charges

• Assaults
• Communicating Threats
• Trespassing
• Drug Charges 
• Larceny and Theft
• Breaking & Entering
• Wildlife violations
• Possession of controlled substances like marijuana or pills
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Intoxicated and disruptive
• Disorderly conduct
• Carrying a concealed weapon
• Resisting arrest
• Underage possession of alcohol/drinking ticket/consuming alcohol  
• Driving after consuming alcohol while under 21

Typically associated with violent crimes, drug charges, and other major criminal offenses, felonies are severe charges resulting in severe punishment. Due to the severity and seriousness of felonies, if you are under investigation or have been charged, it is urgent to have legal representation who will protect your rights and defend you.

Common Felony Charges 

• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Habitual Felon or Habitual Driving While Impaired
• Assault inflicting serious bodily injury/ Strangulation 
• Assault with a deadly weapon/ with intent to kill/ inflicting serious injury
• Rape/ Statutory rape/ Indecent liberties with a child/ Failure to register as a sex offender
• Kidnapping
• Larceny/ Robbery/ Breaking and Entering/ Felony Larceny ($1,000 or more)
• Felony death by vehicle/ Voluntary Manslaughter/ Involuntary Manslaughter/ Murder
• Extortion
• Damage to personal or real property/ Obtaining property by false pretense
• Identity theft/ Forgery/ Fraud
• Embezzlement
• Possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver (PWIMSD) controlled substances (marijuana, Cocaine, MDMA, Pills, LSD, Heroin, Methamphetamine)
• Felony Possession of Controlled Substances
• Sell or deliver controlled substances.
• Trafficking in Controlled Substances
• Conspiracy or Attempt
• Possession pre-cursor chemicals
• Maintaining a Dwelling/vehicle/place for a controlled substance

The court system is now behind you, but that does not mean that you have a clean record. Being charged with a crime places a hard copy and an electronic version on your record. Employers, educators, and landlords can access this record. However, an expungement is a court order that requires everything to be destroyed and erased so that it cannot be viewed or accessed by anyone.
North Carolina has implemented new expungement laws. The main change is a reduction in the waiting period to expunge non-violent misdemeanor and felony convictions.
For cases that have been dismissed or found not guilty.

• No wait time between dismissals and expungements.
• No limit on the number of dismissals than can be expunged.

For non-violent convictions 

• Misdemeanor convictions wait period reduced from 10 years to 5 years.
• Felony conviction wait period reduced from 15 years to 10 years.
• New Eligibility Rules for those with multiple nonviolent misdemeanors or felony convictions. The law would soon allow for those with more than one conviction on different dates to seek relief.
• Eligibility Rules for those with convictions from under the age of 18.  Almost all H and I Felony Convictions and almost all misdemeanor convictions are now covered minus DWI related or sexual registry related convictions under the age of 18.  Multiple convictions are also covered.  If you have anything on your record that happened before you turn 18, you should call for a free consultation today.

If you have any questions about expunging your record, please give us a call at (828) 386-1705.