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One holiday season, two realities: twinkle lights and hayrides on one side, blue lights and court dates on the other. We invited Wilmington attorney Jimmy McGee to bridge that gap with clear, practical advice on DWI stops, sobriety tests, and the choices that keep you and your record safe. What starts with local traditions and community pride quickly shifts to street-level safety, mental health strain downtown, and the legal nuances that matter when a casual dinner meets a roadside flashlight.

We unpack why Wilmington sees so many DWIs—highways that double as main streets, beach traffic year-round, and overlapping patrols from city, county, and highway units. Jimmy explains North Carolina’s key standard: it’s legal to drive after drinking, but illegal to drive while appreciably impaired. He breaks down the stop from the first signal to the last question: pull over safely to the right, have license and registration ready, be polite, and know you don’t have to perform field sobriety tests that often trip up even sober people. We talk probable cause, checkpoints, and how video and officer reports can make or break a case.

Then we zoom out to the details people miss: IPAs and high-ABV beers that add up fast, 14 percent wine poured generously, body weight differences that change breath results, and the messy reality of THC and medications under DRE scrutiny. The theme is consistent—knowledge beats guesswork. We also spotlight the human side of defense work: empathy, clear communication, and treating every case like family. If you’re local to New Hanover, Pender, or Brunswick, Jimmy shares how to reach his Princess Street office and why quick action matters.

Whether you’re planning a party route or prepping a legal playbook, this conversation gives you the tools to make smarter decisions. If you found it helpful, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a ride-or-call reminder, and leave a review so more folks find practical, local guidance when it counts.