Hampstead NC DWI, DUI and Traffic Attorney - Criminal Defense Lawyer

Collins Law Firm represents people charged with a wide range of traffic matters from simple speeding tickets to serious felony charges. In many cases we are able to avoid the necessity of our clients appearing in court and we help eliminate or mitigate the negative consequences of citations or charges.

As with all criminal charges, convictions for traffic violations have a cumulative effect and multiple convictions can have serious adverse consequences. When we represent people charged with traffic violations, we will analyze the defendants record and attempt to get the best possible result available. In many cases we have been able to have charges dismissed all together. When that is not possible, we are prepared to go to trial or negotiate plea arrangements which will result in the least negative impact on our client.

Drunk driving, also known as driving while impaired or DWI or DUI, is a very serious criminal offense, and in many respects is treated differently than other crimes in North Carolina and many other states. In North Carolina many simple traffic violations can be handled without the defendant appearing in court through a waiver of appearance which allows the attorney to appear for the client without the client having to actually go to court. However, with the vast majority of DWI charges, the client must appear in court. Also, charges for driving while impaired may not be dismissed in North Carolina without the prosecutor completing a special form entitled “Prosecutors explanation of dismissal or reduction” (AOC-CR-339).

The only immediate consequences of being charged with most crimes are being arrested, booked, processed, and posting a bond. However, for DWI charges, if you refuse to submit to a chemical analysis of your breath or blood, or if the chemical analysis of your breath or blood reveals an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, your North Carolina driving privileges are revoked immediately for a period of at least 30 days. If you are convicted of DWI, your driving privileges will also be revoked for a year or more. Collins Law Firm regularly represents people charged with driving while impaired (also known as DUI or DWI) and we take the representation of our clients and these matters very seriously.

Also, in many instances where people have represented themselves and the result was that they lost their license or their insurance premiums increased dramatically, by way of a Motion for Appropriate Relief, we have been able to go back and vacate the prior judgment and help our clients have their suspended licenses reinstated.

For most minor traffic matters, Collins Law Firm offers a free initial telephone consultation or we usually have appointments available immediately if you would like to come to our office to meet with a member of our staff.
 

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Hampstead, North Carolina is located in Pender County and is an unincorporated but fairly populated area located near the Intracoastal Waterway north of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Therefore, there are no Hampstead police officers but there are many other law enforcement agencies which have jurisdiction in Hampstead including North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Pender County Sheriff's Department, North Carolina ALE agents, Wildlife officers and the Marine Patrol.  If any law enforcement agency charges you with a crime or issues you a citation for a traffic violation, in or around Hampstead, your court date will be in Burgaw, North Carolina which is the county seat of Pender County.  Pender County is part of the 5th judicial district which also includes New Hanover County.  Because Pender County and New Hanover County comprise the same judicial district, which means that the same district attorney's office prosecutes cases in both counties and the district court judges which hold court in New Hanover County and Pender County rotate between the two counties.

While Collins Law Firm does not have an office in Hampstead, NC, attorney David Collins regularly practices in Pender County and therefore, if you have been charged with a crime or received a traffic citation in Hampstead, NC or anywhere within Pender County, Collins Law Firm can help.

The Pender County Courthouse is located at 100 South Wright St. Burgaw, NC 28425.