How to Assist A Client
With A NC DWI
It comes to your attention that a client has a NC DWI. How do you proceed?
First, determine whether that NC DWI is resolved or unresolved.
Resolved - All fees have been paid to the NC county of conviction and to the NC DMV, the client has already completed a DWI program which was accepted by the NC DMV, and the client has no suspensions in NC due to the DWI. No action necessary on your part.
Unresolved - Client is suspended in NC due to failure to pay fees or fines, failure to have completed a DWI program meeting NC standards, or failure to have reported a completed DWI program to the NC DMV in the proscribed way (508-R Form).
1) If the client has already completed a DWI program and needs to report it correctly to the NC DMV, refer client to me by providing the client my name and phone number (or providing me the client's contact info). I'll handle it from there.
2) If the client hasn't yet completed a program, refer the client to me, either by simply giving him my name and phone number, or by printing out the Client Handout Sheet offered for download below.
I will explain the process to the client and begin the process on my end by obtaining a copy of his NC driving record and checking whether the client owes any fines or fees to the NC county of conviction or to the NC DMV.
3) Conduct your standard assessment or evaluation, but factor your program recommendation against the minimum criteria necessary to satisfy NC standards for DWI programs. Download and print the Program Placement Criteria available below to determine how to recommend a program that will meet NC standards. (This form is password protected to prevent manipulation of evaluations. Contact Rob Martin for password: 252-883-9644).
4) Enroll the client in a program that meets the standards of both NC and your state.
5) Provide the client with your standard completion document(s) when completed. I will need a copy of these, whether provided directly by your agency or from the client. It is not mandatory, but you may download the Program Completion Form offered below, fill it out (one page and easy to fill out), and forward that to me, with or without your agency's standard completion document(s).
That's all there is to it!
-I handle everything else directly with the client.
-I handle all contact with the NC DMV.
-I remain in constant contact with the client to answer any questions (saving you from being forever the 'middleman').
-I am always available to clients, clinicians, administrators, attorneys, probation officers, etc. at any time to answer questions, whether you are making a referral or not.
*Helpful Tip: A client will become aware of a NC license suspension in many ways, often by a letter from the NC DMV, or as the unfortunate result of a police check during a traffic stop. When clients call the NC DMV to learn why they are suspended, they may be told that because of a NC DWI conviction, they "need to get an assessment". This implies that only an assessment is necessary to clear the NC license suspenson. Not so.
The language in the NC law states those convicted of DWI in NC must "obtain a substance abuse assessment and complete the level DWI program recommended by the assessment". This is a mouthful and many NC DMV staff will abbreviate it to "you need an assessment" because they repeat it so often every day. While clients may be forgiven for believing only an assessment is required, in fact they must obtain an assessment / evaluation and complete a program.
Check our FAQs Page for any questions not answered here, or simply call me and I'll be happy to provide you the needed info.
