DWI Assessment in Guilford County, NC

Guilford County — North Carolina's third-largest — is anchored by Greensboro and High Point, a manufacturing and logistics hub where a driver's license often means the difference between employed and unemployed. Arrested for DWI here? A substance abuse assessment is one of the first required steps, and getting it done early protects your case and your ability to keep driving legally.

One quirk worth knowing up front: Guilford County has two courthouse locations, so your case could be in either one.

¿Qué ocurre tras una detención por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol en Carolina del Norte?

DWI is a misdemeanor handled in District Court. In Guilford County, cases are heard at one of two locations:

Greensboro: 201 S Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
High Point: 505 E Green Dr, High Point, NC 27260

Check your citation or release paperwork to see which location is yours — don't assume based on where the stop happened. It also carries your court date and docket/case number, which you'll need for the assessment.

The arrest starts two tracks: the criminal case and an administrative action on your license that begins immediately. A substance abuse assessment is also required. Completing it before sentencing is generally viewed favorably, and — critically — it's a prerequisite for a pre-trial limited driving privilege.

La evaluación de conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol: en qué consiste y cuándo hay que someterse a ella

The assessment is a 1 to 1.5 hour structured interview with a certified counselor, covering the arrest and your alcohol/drug history. It produces a written recommendation — ADETS, short-term treatment, or longer care — that tells the court which program you must complete.

Completing it early gives your attorney something to work with, unlocks limited driving privilege eligibility, and gets classes underway — many Guilford County clients finish within days of arrest, often before their first court date.

Bring these to your assessment:

Documento de identidad con fotografía
Tu citación o documentación judicial (número de expediente o de caso)
Datos sobre la fecha de tu detención
Los datos de contacto de tu abogado, si tienes uno

Cursos de ADETS y DWI: ¿cuál necesitarás?

The assessment determines the recommendation, and the court follows it. The levels:

ADETS (Escuela de Tráfico para la Educación sobre el Alcohol y las Drogas): 16 horas repartidas en al menos 5 sesiones. Normalmente, para infractores sin antecedentes que cumplan los requisitos: primera acusación por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol, tasa de alcoholemia de 0,14 o inferior, y sin que se haya detectado ninguna discapacidad relacionada con el abuso de sustancias en la evaluación.
Tratamiento a corto plazo: entre 20 y 40 horas aproximadamente, repartidas en un mínimo de 30 días, en caso de una tasa de alcoholemia elevada, negativa a someterse a una prueba química, antecedentes de conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol o diagnóstico de un trastorno leve por consumo de sustancias.
Tratamiento a más largo plazo: más de 40 horas a lo largo de más de 60 días, hasta programas ambulatorios intensivos de unas 90 horas a lo largo de 90 días, en los casos más graves.

Whichever level applies, the court generally requires completion before restoring full driving privileges.

Tu permiso de conducir tras una detención por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol

Una tasa de alcoholemia igual o superior a 0,08 (0,04 para los conductores profesionales y 0,01 o más para los menores de 21 años) —o negarse a someterse a la prueba química— da lugar a una suspensión civil automática del permiso de conducir de 30 días a partir del momento de la detención (N.C.G.S. § 20-16.5):

Días 1-10: no se conduce en absoluto.
Days 11–30: you may petition the court for a pre-trial Limited Driving Privilege, generally requiring a valid license, no other pending DWI, a completed substance abuse assessment with enrollment in any recommended treatment, and proof of insurance.

A first conviction generally brings a 1-year revocation (a post-conviction limited driving privilege may be available); ignition interlock is generally required for BACs of 0.15+ or repeat offenses. In a county where so many jobs involve driving — warehouse, delivery, manufacturing shifts — the limited privilege can be essential. The assessment is the step that makes the privilege petition possible.

¿Cuánto cuesta una evaluación por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol en Carolina del Norte?

These fees are set by state law and identical statewide:

Evaluación por conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol: 100 dólares
ADETS: 160 dólares

Treatment costs vary by provider and level. A first DWI's overall cost — fines, court costs, attorney fees, insurance — often reaches into the thousands, so handle the required steps efficiently.

How LC Counseling helps Guilford County drivers

LC Counseling is a North Carolina state-approved provider of DWI assessments and substance use programs (dwiassessments.com). Assessments and DWI classes are available virtually or in person — and since essentially all assessments are virtual, no one needs to drive across the county.

Programación rápida: a muchos clientes se les atiende a los pocos días de haber llamado
Disponemos de asesores que hablan español con fluidez
Horario: de lunes a viernes, de 9:00 a 19:00; sábados, de 9:00 a 15:00

Call 910-701-0170 or 336-701-1016, or schedule online at dwiassessments.com — the faster the assessment is done, the faster your limited driving privilege paperwork can move forward.

Preguntas frecuentes

Which Guilford County courthouse will my case be in? Two locations: Greensboro (201 S Eugene St) and High Point (505 E Green Dr). Check your citation — it will say which one. When in doubt, ask your attorney.

Do I need the assessment if I haven't been convicted? Yes. It's required before sentencing, completing it early is generally viewed favorably, and it's required before you can petition for a pre-trial limited driving privilege.

Can I do the assessment from High Point? Yes — assessments are completed virtually, so it doesn't matter whether your case is in Greensboro or High Point.

This page is general information about the North Carolina DWI process, not legal advice. Consult a North Carolina DWI attorney about your specific case.

Get your assessment scheduled today — call LC Counseling at 910-701-0170 or 336-701-1016. State-approved, virtual across North Carolina, with appointments often within days.