News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Johnston opens court for DWI cases

Crime & Safety

Published: Oct 07, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: Oct 07, 2008 01:45 AM

Johnston opens court for DWI cases

 

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SMITHFIELD - A special court to handle DWI charges begins in Johnston County today, to help reduce a backlog of about 1,400 pending cases.

District Attorney Susan Doyle sought and received a grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program to pay for the court, which will operate three days a week through Sept. 30, 2009. The grant is for $167,309.

Doyle says she hopes it will improve the county's relatively low conviction rate for driving while impaired charges.

In 2006, county prosecutors voluntarily dismissed about 43 percent of impaired-driving charges, according to court records. That compares to a 14 percent dismissal rate statewide that year.

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Staff writer Mark Schultz

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