How to Get Your Auto Back If it Was Taken in a DWI Arrest in Charlotte

When Can Law Enforcement Seize Your Vehicle?

The police are required to take a driver’s motor vehicle in certain situations under North Carolina law. They are required to seize it if at the time of the arrest:

The driver had his license revoked for a prior DWI offense

The driver did not have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance as required by North Carolina law.

If either of these apply, law enforcement would seize the vehicle even if the driver is not its owner.

The vehicle initially would be towed to a local storage facility. Within a few days, it would be moved to the facility of a state contractor. At present, law enforcement contracts with a towing company in Charlotte to store vehicles in our county and throughout the western part of our state.

What Happens to a Vehicle After it Is Seized in a DWI Arrest?

In most cases, a court action would need to be filed, and a hearing would be held after a vehicle’s seizure. The judge would decide to either:

Return the vehicle to the owner
Transfer the vehicle to the local school board, who could then sell it

However, a motor vehicle can be sold by the contracting facility without a court order if the storage and towing costs would exceed its value. If this occurs, the contractor would deposit the net proceeds of the sale with the local court clerk’s office. The proceeds would first be used to pay off any liens on the vehicle, and any balance left over would be returned to the owner.

How Can You Get Your Auto Returned to You?

If you were the owner of the vehicle that was seized at the time of your arrest, you may be able to get it back. You would need to show that your driver’s license was not revoked for a prior DWI conviction at the time of your arrest and meet other requirements.

It may be easier to have your auto returned if you are its owner but were not driving it at the time of the DWI arrest. You can have it temporarily returned until a court hearing to decide on what happens to it by posting a bond equal to your vehicle’s value.

In order to keep your vehicle, you would need to prove that you were “innocent.” There are five ways that you could show this:

You did not have any reason to know that the person’s driver’s license was revoked or that he did not have a valid license and required auto insurance.
You knew the person’s license had been revoked or that he did not have a valid license and insurance, but you did not give him permission to drive the vehicle. You must also have filed a police report and agree to cooperate in the prosecution of the driver.
Your vehicle was stolen, and you reported its theft to law enforcement.
You rent vehicles as part of your business, and the driver was not an authorized driver or you did not know that his driver’s license was revoked when you rented the vehicle to him.
You lease vehicles as part of your business and did not know that the person’s driver’s license was revoked when you entered into the lease with him.

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Our Approach To DWI Cases

WE WILL GET YOU DRIVING AGAIN

Simply being charged with DWI in North Carolina often results in your driver’s license being revoked for a minimum of 30 days. However, we can typically get your driving privileges reinstated almost immediately. We do this by either, first, challenging this civil license revocation, or second, getting you a limited driving privilege.

Defend My Case

WE WILL GATHER EVIDENCE

Whether you realize it or not, a considerable amount of evidence exists regarding your DWI charge, much of which is vital to an effective defense of your case. We will review your court file, subpoena necessary documents, videos, and notes, and file the appropriate pretrial motions in a timely manner.

Defend My Case

WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU IN COURT

As former prosecutors, we are aware of all the potential defenses that may be available to you. We do not automatically assume you intend to plead guilty and face the harsh consequences associated with a DWI conviction. We pledge we will examine every possible defense and take your case to trial if it is in your best interest.

Defend My Case

WE WILL MITIGATE CONSEQUENCES

While it’s our goal to win every DWI case we have, it’s simply not possible for any attorney to win every time. If you are ultimately convicted of DWI, we will help you take every step possible to reduce the potential penalties, such as avoiding jail time, keeping you driving, reducing monetary costs, and more.

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How to Get Your Auto Back If it Was Taken in a DWI Arrest in Charlotte

When Can Law Enforcement Seize Your Vehicle?

Let Our Experience & Knowledge Help You Obtain The Best Possible Outcome For Your Unique Legal Situation.

What Happens to a Vehicle After it Is Seized in a DWI Arrest?

How Can You Get Your Auto Returned to You?

Have You Been Arrested for a DWI in Charlotte, NC?

Our Approach To DWI Cases