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Earlier this week, this blog reported that a man was charged with driving while impaired on a moped in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. A similar account has made the news in Clinton, North Carolina-at least as far as the vehicle involved in the DWI allegations. However, Police in Clinton claim that the man accused of DWI while riding a moped is a repeat offender.

Law enforcement says that authorities received several calls about a man on a moped. One caller told dispatchers that the man kept falling off the motorized bike. A police officer looked for the man, but apparently could not locate the man or the moped. Later, the caller phoned authorities again claiming that the man was at a gas station.

The officer searched the area, but still could not find the moped. A short time later, the officer found a man in the middle of a Clinton street-underneath a fallen moped.

The police officer arrested the Clinton man on suspicion of drunk driving charges. Authorities claim that the man blew an alcohol reading of 0.29 percent. However, officials apparently claim that the man had several prior DWI convictions on his record within a 10-year time frame. In addition to DWI, the man has been charged with felony habitual DWI, according to the Sampson Independent. The man was booked into jail with bond set at ,000. His next court date is scheduled for March 14.

North Carolina law treats any DWI conviction harshly. But the consequences become more strict if a person has a prior DWI conviction in a specified number of years.

When a driver is accused of new DWI charges with three prior convictions within 10 years, North Carolina law allows authorities to seek habitual DWI charges, which is a felony level offense. A person convicted of felony habitual DWI in North Carolina must expect to serve time in prison.

State law requires judges to impose a mandatory minimum of one year in prison for a conviction of habitual DWI, a minimum sentence that cannot be suspended. The judge can impose a longer sentence in excess of the mandatory minimum.

Source: Sampson Independent, “Clinton man charged with habitual DWI,” Sherry Matthews, Jan. 14, 2013

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Law enforcement in Clinton, North Carolina was called to an establishment just before 2:00 in the morning to break up an alleged bar fight over the weekend. Responding officers say that the staff apparently was able to get the fight under control before police arrived.

However, after breaking up the fight, staff claims that three women refused to leave the premises. There is no information in a recent news story that the three women were involved in the original alleged fight, but all three now face criminal charges.

The three women, all sisters, reported refused to leave, and officers stepped in after arriving at the scene. Police claim that the youngest of the sisters, an 18-year-old woman, pushed a police detective on the shoulder. The youngest sister was taken into custody on suspicion of assault on a government official.

The 18-year-old was hauled out to a police cruiser for transport to the Detention Center. Authorities say that the young woman was wearing a wrist band, indicating that she was old enough to enter the establishment, which serves alcohol. While in the patrol car, the officer transporting the 18-year-old claims that the young woman smelled of alcohol. Police say that she submitted to a breath test, which registered 0.10 percent blood alcohol concentration.

The young woman is facing several charges related to the allegations. She is accused of the assault charge, as well as trespassing and underage drinking. She was booked into jail on ,500 bond. Her sisters, who are 23- and 26-years-old, each were arrested on suspicion of trespassing and given bond of 0 each.

Source: Sampson Independent, “Sisters charged after refusing to leave Wingz,” Sherry Matthews, Dec. 3, 2012

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