North Carolina’s DWI Implied Consent Law and Blood and Breath Test

During a driving while impaired (DWI) investigation, the officer will typically ask the driver to take a blood or breath test. Prosecutors then use the results of these tests to decide whether to prosecute and, if a case goes to trial, to prove DWI charges in court.

Drivers generally can't refuse a post-arrest chemical test without facing penalties. North Carolina's "implied consent" law requires all drivers who are lawfully arrested for DWI (sometimes called "DUI") to submit to chemical testing to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or the amount of drugs in the person's system.

North Carolina Officers Must Give an Implied Consent Advisement

The police generally will take drivers who are arrested for DWI to the police department for chemical testing of their blood or breath. The arresting officer must advise the driver of certain rights and potential consequences. This advisement must include informing the driver:

• of the right to refuse testing, but that such a refusal will result in license revocation for at least one year
• that a refusal or a test result showing a BAC of .08% or higher will result in an immediate license revocation of at least 30 days
• the test results or the fact that the driver refused will be admissible at trial
• of the right to contact an attorney and have a witness present to observe the testing procedures (provided that consultation with counsel and selecting a witness doesn't delay testing more than 30 minutes), and
• of the right to seek an independent alcohol test—in addition to that ordered by the officer—upon release.

After giving this advisement, the arresting officer will typically ask the driver to sign a form confirming that the driver was advised and understood. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-16.2 (2025).)

North Carolina Law and DWI Breathalyzer Testing

An officer who stops a person on suspicion of impaired driving will almost always ask the person to take a roadside portable breath test (PBT) (also called an "alcohol screening test") before making an arrest. North Carolina law states that an officer may "require" motorists to submit to the PBT if the officer has reasonable suspicion of impaired driving. The driver may refuse the PBT test without penalties such as license suspensions or fines. However, the prosecution can use the fact of the refusal to prove that the officer had probable cause to arrest the driver for DWI. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-16.3 (2025).)

After an arrest, the officer might ask the driver to take a second, more accurate breath test at the police station. Before giving this test, the officer is supposed to give the driver the advisement described above. The results of the second breath test are what prosecutors would normally use in court to prove a DWI.

North Carolina Law and DWI Blood Testing

Officers also have the option of requesting that a driver take a blood alcohol test instead of or in addition to a breath test. Before giving such a test, the officer is supposed to give the implied consent advisement. If the driver refuses the test or is unconscious, law enforcement can require a blood sample to be taken from the driver only with a search warrant. (Drivers who are ultimately convicted of DWI based on a blood test might end up having to pay a $600 lab fee for the testing.) (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7A-304, 20-16.2 (2025); State v. Romano, 369 N.C. 678 (2017).)

Consequences of Refusing a Breathalyzer or Other DWI Testing in North Carolina

A North Carolina driver who's charged with an implied consent offense faces an immediate 30-day license revocation. An additional one-year revocation is imposed after an opportunity for a hearing (assuming the driver either doesn't request or loses at the hearing). Even if the driver is ultimately found not guilty of DWI in criminal court, the one-year revocation for refusing chemical testing remains in effect. (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-16.2, 20-16.5 (2025).)

After completing six months of a refusal suspension, the driver can petition the court for a limited driving privilege for driving to and from places like school and work. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-16.2 (2025).)

Although criminal penalties aren't imposed for chemical test refusals, the fact that a driver refused testing is generally admissible in criminal court to prove a DWI. So, the State might still be able to prove its case even without the results of a chemical test indicating the driver's blood alcohol content. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-16.2 (2025).)

Getting Legal Help for a DWI in North Carolina

The consequences of DWI are serious. If you've been arrested for or charged with a DWI, you should talk to an experienced DWI attorney right away. A DWI attorney in your area can help you understand how the law applies to the facts of your case and advise you on what to do next. Depending on the circumstances of your case, an attorney might be able to negotiate a plea bargain for a lesser charge, such as "reckless driving."