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You've had a long, hard week at
work and now you're ready to go out
on the town and have some fun?
Think what that $4.99 six pack or $15
bottle of liquor may cost you if you get
behind the wheel of a car and get
pulled over for driving drunk.
There were 82 arrests made in Kings
Mountain last year for driving under
the influence. The minimum fine for a
first time DWI is $200, but that’s not
including insurance hikes, lawyer fees
and lost wages. In fact, the whole
ordeal may end up costing you over
$3,000 for a first-time offense. If injury
or death is involved, the cost can be
astronomical, financially and emotion-
ally, to you and others.
Drinking and driving has grown
increasingly intolerable in the United
States, not to mention in the state of
North Carolina. While fines have
increased and license revocations have
lengthened, there are many latent con-
sequences of a DWI conviction. Those
whom have experienced a DWI sen-
tencing know that the penalties of the
law are only the beginning.
North Carolina DWI laws are some
of the toughest in the country. Under
the “Booze it and Lose it” campaign,
you will lose your license for a period
of ten days or more on your first
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Id BL 3
offense. Even worse, you will go to jail
for a period of 24 hours to 60 days.
The fines for first time DWI start at
$200 and can increase based upon
what North Carolina statue refers to as
“the five levels of punisharerit.”
The five levels are a sort of tier-based
system that holds five as the least seri-
ous in nature and one as the most seri-
ous. If it is your first DWI, you will
likely be charged under the fifth level,
which calls for a 24-hour jail sentence
and a $200 fine.
However, you can receive a stiffer
penalty for your first offense based on
“aggravating factors.”
An aggravating factor is anything
from extreme intoxication, reckless
driving, causing over $500 in damage
to passing a stopped school bus or
even causing personal injury. The
extent to which you are punished for
these aggravating factors are up to the
discretion of the judge.
Bearing in mind that aggravating
factors can bump your sentence up a
level, the punishment for a second
DWI includes up to 12 months in jail, a
six month revocation of your license
and a fine of up ta $2,000. For a third
conviction, a drunk driver could face
anywhere from 30 days to 24 months
in jail as well as a fine of up to $4,000.
“Every case is different, but I can say
that if you are convicted of a DWI, I
hope you have some money saved
up,” says Attorney Mickey Corry of
Kings Mountain.
On top of the court fines and lost
ELIZABETH STEWART
Herald Correspondent
town Kings Mountain.
“My Dad Joe Smith loved Kings
Kings Mountain lawyer Joni Smith is on
a challenging mission — to revitalize down-
Mountaineer Partnership Inc. is a sup- .
port group which offers assistance, not
only to newcomers to Kings Mountain but
those already established property owners
who want ideas on revitalization.
Currently the organization's goal is to
adopt Main Street USA, a national organi-
KINGS MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
Joni Smith’s mission:
Revitalize downtown
DYLAN LLOYD/ HERALD
wages from doing time in jail, there are
also the fees for your lawyer. In the
state of North Carolina a public
defender will charge you $100 for a
DWI if you lose youir case. In
Cleveland County; Tepresen tation Tor a
DWI charge can range from $500 to
$3,000.
Drunk driving affects more than just
those who are convicted. It also affects
the general public. A study conducted
in 2004 by Allstate Insurance found
that DWI costs taxpayers $24 billion
per year in law enforcement man-
hours and property damage.
Beyond the legal troubles, driving
after drinking alcohol also presents
dangerous safety consequences, not for
just the driver, but for those who may
be in their path as well. According to
the Alcohol and Drug Council of North
Carolina there were 364 deaths attrib-
uted to drunk driving in 2005.
“Losing your license and paying a
fine is the easy part, and you're lucky
if you're still alive,” said local resident
David Stone. “I drove drunk, and now
I can’t walk without a cane.”
For anyone that has been through a
DWI, they understand that the sen-
tence handed down by the judge is
only the beginning. Driving while
intoxicated has lasting consequences
such as loss of wages, loss of your free-
dom, and tragically sometimes, loss of
a life. ;
Next week: After Shock
Public’s help
needed in fight
against drugs
ELIZABETH STEWART
Herald Correspondent
John Q. Public is calling the police more often to report
criminal activity and that’s reflected in the number of drug
arrests in Kings Mountain in
2005.
Sgt. Lisa C. Proctor, who heads
the Narcotics Vice Division, said
police have a rapport with the
public who in recent years were
wary of calling police because
they felt their names would be
revealed. That's a no-no with
police, who never give out names
of informants.
Statistical data for the period
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2005 notes that of
226 complaints filed with the
Narcotics Division, a total of 165
were arrested. The break-down
includes: 3 alcohol / tobacco com-
plaints; 4 gambling /video poker
complaints; 2 prostitution com-
plaints; 14 estimated number of
knock-n-talks; 10 estimated num-
ber of persons charged in federal
court assisted by KMPD assisting
“We’ve seen a
complete
turnaround
because police
have built a trust
and a bond with
other jurisdictions; 14 estimated ~~ the
alcohol related charges from community.”
ABC/gambling sting with A. L.
E.; 15 individuals charged with : :
: Police Chief
ABC violations not counting the
Sting operation; and 119 people
charged with drug violations.
“Community Watch programs in Kings Mountain are
working,” says Mayor Rick Murphrey. He said several new o
See Drugs, 5A br
Election filing
opens Monday
gstewart@kingsmountainherald.co
Melvin Proctor
Filing for various state and local offices begins Monday at
noon at the Cleveland County Board of Elections in Shelby.
Filing ends at noon on February 28.
Filing hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The only local filing that is not handled by the Cleveland
County Board of Elections are the races for District
Attorney and District Court judges. Candidates in those
races must file with the State Board of Elections. D.A. Bill
Young is not seeking re-election.
Numerous local and at least one state office are drawing
heavy attention. A number of well-known Cleveland
County residents have already announced their intention to
seek office.
The primary election is Tuesday, May 2. If a second pri-
mary is necessary, it will be held on May 30. Democrats and
Republicans who survive their primaries will oppose each
other in the general election on November 7.
While “off-year” elections do not normally draw big
turnouts, Elections Board Director Debra Blanton believes
See Filing, 3A
ELECTION |
SCHEDULE
B Filing period for pri-
mary - 12 noon Mon., Feb.
13 through 12 noon Tues.,
Feb. 28 at the Cleveland
County Board of Elections.
B Filing period for the
non-partisan Cleveland
County Soil & Water
District Commissioner
offices -12 noon Mon., June
12 through 12 noon Fri.,
July 7 at the Cleveland
County Board of Elections.
MW Candidates for District
zation which utilizes a four-point plan to Attorney and District Court
Mountain and he started working for
Kings Mountain the day we moved here in achieve revitalization. Committees are Judge must file with the
1968,” said Smith. She said he set an exam- being appointed to head organization, North Carolina State Board
ple and was the epitome of a good citizen. design, promotion and economic restruc- of Elections.
She wants to see Kings Mountain flourish turing. Another goal is to steer property M Primary election -Tues.,
as a testament to her father’s strong leader- owners toward incentive programs and May 2.
ways to get grants plus help with historic
designation and work with the city of
BM Second primary, if nec-
ship.
essary, - Tues., May 30.
“1 am excited,” said Smith, who became
active in Mountaineer Partnership Inc. Kings Mountain in promoting downtown BW Voter registration dead-
three years ago and is presently president business. line - Fri., April 7.
and chairman of the board of the non-prof- “We want to be a resource to local peo- HM Voter registration dead-
it organization. The group meets the sec- ple who want to upgrade their facilities line for second primary -
ond Wednesday of each month at 12:30 and put people in the right buildings with Fri., April 7.
HB General election -
November 7.
HW Voter registration dead-
line - October 13.
new ideas on how to make Kings
Mountain a vital downtown,” Smith says.
See Joni, 5A
p.m. at First National Bank's conference
room and invites the interested public to
give input. JONI SMITH
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