In a very unique story, two people travelling in the same vehicle were both recently charged with DWIs, separately. In other words, both the driver and the passenger received charged for a DWI, although they were not both technically driving.
This particular situation went as follows: two friends leave the bar in Gaston County. One friend is sober enough to drive, so she decides to drive her friend and herself home. Then, as the duo is driving home, the driver decides to text another friend. It was at this moment that the driver took her hands off the wheel and let the intoxicated friend steer for her while she finished her texting; which happens to be a crime in North Carolina in the first place.
When the intoxicated friend took the wheel, she could not handle the vehicle, and slammed the SUV into a tree. The passenger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver was not harmed by the accident.
Although the passenger was not sitting in the driver’s seat, she is being charged with driving while intoxicated because she steered( or drove) the vehicle into a tree.
Her friend is also getting charged with a DWI and aiding and abetting, as the North Carolina laws permit this charge to follow in these circumstances. The law in North Carolina permits someone to be charged with aiding and abetting a DWI if they let an intoxicated person operate the vehicle.
If you have been charged with a crime in North Carolina such as a DWI it is important to contact an attorney who understands the law. Conversely, if you have been seriously injured by a drunk driver , that too can be serious, and need the attention of an experienced attorney. If you find yourself in either situation, contact the law offices of Robert J. Reeves, P.C. toll-free at 877-374-5999 for more information on your options for either situation.