2025
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LicensingUser ReviewsMystery Shopping CallsOur goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Wilmington DUI lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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= Featured ProviderJames Rutherford, Attorney at Law, is a law firm serving clients in the Wilmington area. James Rutherford is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a criminal law specialist and he handles DUI cases of all types and complexity. The firm assists clients with avoiding the consequences involved with a DUI conviction, such as raised insurance premiums and jail time. Mr. Rutherford has been practicing law for over 15 years.
iTicket.Law serves individuals in Wilmington who are facing accusations of driving while drunk or impaired. The team has experience with contesting the findings in field sobriety tests, breathalyzer exams, and questioning the propriety of the conduct of police procedures. The firm also takes on traffic violations and handles procedures to restore driver's licenses. The office was founded by Daniel Hatley who opened his private practice in 2009. He is a seasoned negotiator and caters to non-profit institutions.
Hall & Green Law is a team of attorneys serving the Wilmington metro. It provides legal guidance and defense for individuals accused of driving while impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It helps them minimize potential penalties and handle negotiations to prevent driver's license suspensions or jail time. The firm also represents minors who face DUI charges and clients involved in vehicular manslaughter. Managing partners Alexander Hall and John Green have over 50 years of combined legal experience.
Gross Law Group, PLLC, provides legal counsel to Wilmington residents and the surrounding communities. It handles DUI cases and assists clients in managing life-altering risks and minimizing consequences. David K. Gross, the firm's founder and lead counsel, served in the military and as a police officer before going on to practice law for over two decades. His experience provided him with a broader perspective when defending clients facing criminal charges. His firm also handles criminal law and traffic law matters.
Mason & Mason Attorneys at Law serves Wilmington clients. It offers representation for criminal defense cases, including DUI and DWI charges. It guides clients in getting their sides of the story heard and explores options to lessen their charges. It also handles legal matters involving traffic violations, trafficking of illegal drugs and narcotics, expunctions, and school suspensions. The firm has been serving clients since 1989 and also deals with cases in the practice areas of personal injury, civil and business litigation, and family law.
Christina Rivenbark & Associates is a firm serving clients located in Wilmington and throughout southeastern North Carolina. This practice has over 25 years of experience with providing legal advice and representation to individuals facing DUI charges. It challenges BAC results, field sobriety test results, and the arresting officer's probable cause for the initial traffic stop. Christina Rivenbark & Associates also has a history of reducing the impact of a DUI conviction on clients' driving privileges.
Grayson Cheek Trial Lawyer serves clients in Wilmington. It protects the rights of individuals who have been charged with DUIs, by reviewing the facts of their cases to preserve their driving privileges and freedom. The firm also employs a wide range of defenses to mitigate the impact of DUI charges, including determining whether an officer has probable cause for the arrest. Founding attorney Grayson Cheek has tried hundreds of DUIs to judge and jury verdicts.
(27)The multi-practice Godwin Law Firm caters to the needs of Wilmington clients facing DUI charges. It is guided by the philosophy of informing clients about the legal process. It discusses the details of individuals' cases and the options for defending their rights. The agency identifies the faults of police officers, such as failure to read suspects' Miranda Rights. Godwin Law Firm also challenges expert witness testimonies to reduce various penalties, like driving license revocation and jail time.
Duhe Willetts Law is a firm that provides legal solutions to clients who need criminal defense services in Wilmington. The firm's attorney, Jordan Duhe Willetts, handles cases of DWI/DUI and traffic law violations, investigating the circumstances of the client's case and educating them of the legal processes involved with their case. She holds the criminal law specialist designation from the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Wilma Magazine's Women to Watch initiative awarded Willetts with the Rising Star Award in 2018.
Whitley Coleman, PLLC, is a family-owned law firm that provides representation to Wilmington clients dealing with various legal matters. Its criminal defense practice includes developing strong defenses for persons involved in DUI, domestic violence, assault, and juvenile crimes to help clients get their cases dismissed. The firm's team also practices personal injury and immigration law. John Coleman has nearly 10 years of experience as a prosecutor. He is a member of the Police Advisory Commission.
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To report a non-emergency situation that requires the assistance of the local police, the residents of Wilmington may call (910) 452-6120.
To obtain police reports in Wilmington, interested parties can visit http://p2c.wilmingtonnc.gov/ and fill out all the necessary details. Processing of police report requests usually takes five to seven business days.
There are no wet reckless, conditional discharge, or diversion programs in Wilmington that can be used to get a DWI case dismissed. An accusation of driving while intoxicated must be tried and proven on the merits of the case. In the event that a prosecutor decides to dismiss a DWI case, they must fill out a form explaining their decision to drop the charge, and this doesn't happen very often.
Anyone found guilty of DUI in Wilmington faces the possibility of jail time. However, imprisonment depends on several factors, and it is more likely for someone with a prior DWI or driving with a suspended license due to DWI. It can also be punishment for drivers charged with DWI if a child was in the car or if it was an accident that caused injury to another person.
In Wilmington, there are five penalty levels after being charged with DUI or DWI. The penalties include the suspension of the driver's license, fines ranging from $200 to $4,000, and 60 days to two years of imprisonment. For aggravated DUI charges, drivers face fines of up to $10,000 and three years in jail.
The legal BAC limit for most drivers is.08%, and Wilmington police use a blood-alcohol content (BAC) measurement procedure to assess whether a driver is impaired by alcohol. Tests for intoxication become more challenging for certain drugs like cannabis. The motorist should consult an attorney as soon as possible if there are any questions about the reliability of a drug test.
Being a beach town, Wilmington is frequently visited by drivers from other states. If an out-of-state driver is charged with DUI, they are more than welcome to hire a local attorney to handle the case. To avoid going back and forth, the attorney can encourage you to accept a plea bargain or declare yourself guilty, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
