DWI-TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

In State v. Simmons, 57 N.C.App. 548, 551, 291 S.E.2d 815, 817 (1982) our Court of Appeals stated:

In North Carolina, "[i]t is the settled rule that the evidence in a criminal case must correspond with the allegations of the indictment which are essential and material to charge the offense.  [Footnote omitted.]  The indictment controls the prosecution, and evidence not supported by the indictment is unavailing."  7 Strong's N.C. Index 3d, Indictment and Warrant § 17, p. 162.

"In all cases the charge must be proved as laid."  State v. Bell, 65 N.C. 313.

The date and time of driving is always an essential element of a charge of driving while impaired. N.C.G.S. 20-138.1(a) defines "driving while impaired" as follows:

A person commits the offense of impaired driving if he drives any vehicle upon any highway, any street, or any public vehicular area within this State:

(1) While under the influence of an impairing substance; or

(2) After having consumed sufficient alcohol that he has, at any relevant time after the driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

(emphasis added).  N.C.G.S. 20-4.01(33a) defines "relevant time after the driving" to mean "any time after the driving in which the driver still has in his body alcohol consumed before or during the driving." (emphasis added).  Furthermore, N.C.G.S. 20-138.1(c) states "In any prosecution for impaired driving, the pleading is sufficient if it states the time and place of the alleged offense." (emphasis added).  "When one is taken into policy custody for an offense of which intoxication is an essential element, time is of the essence.  Intoxication does not last…"  State v. Hill, 277 N.C. 547, 553, 178 S.E.2d 462, 466 (1971) (emphasis added).

            When the proof does not match the allegations in the citation, there is a variance.  A fatal variance occurs when the proof does not match the material allegations in the citation, leaving the allegation without any evidence to sustain it.  "The question of variance … challenges the right of the state to a verdict upon its own showing, and asks the court, without submitting the case to the jury, decide, as a matter of law, that the state has failed in its proof."  State v. Gibson, 169 N.C. 318, 85 S.E. 7.  "A motion to dismiss [for a variance] is in order when the prosecution fails to offer sufficient evidence the defendant committed the offense charged.  A variance between the criminal offense charged and the offense established by the evidence is in essence a failure of the State to establish the offense charged."  State v. Waddell, 279 N.C. 442, 445, 183 S.E.2d 644, 646 (1971).