Raleigh, N.C. — A Louisburg man charged earlier this week with DWI had been arrested nine other times for the same offense in the past 17 years, according to court records.
Larry Charles Alley, 35, was convicted on four of the charges; the court voluntarily dismissed several others.
In his most recent DWI arrest, Alley registered a 0.10 on a blood alcohol breath test when police in Wilson Mills stopped him Monday night. He was released shortly thereafter under a $3,500 bond.
A search of Alley's criminal history found that in the past 17 years, he was arrested four times in Wake County, two each in Franklin and Johnston counties and one time each in Halifax and New Hanover counties.
He has also been charged dozens of times for driving with a revoked license, according to court records. A number of those charges were also dismissed.
"It's not surprising at all," said North Carolina Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin.
Some local law enforcement officers say the court system does not take DWI charges seriously enough until there is a tragedy
"Our job as state troopers is to take that threat off the highway and then leave it up to the judicial system to process accordingly," Clendenin said.
Lisa Vogel says she strongly believes the system is a wreck. Three years ago, her 21-year-old son was killed by a drunken driver.
"He had a previous DWI. It was dismissed," Vogel said. "He had numerous speeding tickets. He had possession of alcohol while underage. His driving record was bad..
But with each charge, she says, the driver responsible for her son's death got nothing more than what she calls a slap on the wrist.
"The system is enabling them to go out and drive again," Vogel said.
Officers familiar with Alley's record say they believe that in his case, it is not a matter of it, but when that tragedy will happen.
WRAL News has learned that Alley has 16 unserved warrants in Wake County tied to his previous arrests. His most recent DWI arrest was in Johnston County.
Authorities there say they are looking to indict him as a habitual DWI offender, which is a felony.
Local prosecutors in Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Related Items
Video
![[search]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/icons/16x12/search-form-icon.gif)
Site Search
Driver has had 10 DWI charges in 17 years
- Reporter: Bruce Mildwurf
- Photographer: Greg Clark
- Web Editor: Kelly Gardner
News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone53 Comments
-
- Wake County processes voter registrations
Updated at 7:00 p.m. |
- Study: Obama spending more money in N.C.
Updated Oct. 10 11:06 p.m. | - Thousands tour new RDU terminal
Updated at 6:57 p.m. | - Kidzu children's museum plans to grow
Posted at 3:09 p.m. - McCain to visit N.C. Monday
Oct. 10, 2008
- Wake County processes voter registrations
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Halloween on Franklin Street
May. 20, 2008 - Photos of the week
Posted at 10:52 a.m. - Viewer Submitted Halloween Photos
Nov 5, 2007
- Halloween on Franklin Street
STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS
IMAGES
BLOG POSTS-
10 questions with Greg FishelWRAL's chief meteorologist answers your questions about severe weather, snow and why he loves his job.
-
10 questions with a WRAL.com moderatorA WRAL.com moderator answers your questions about comments on stories, abuse reports and more.
-
10 questions with N.C. Secretary of Crime Control & Public SafetyBryan Beatty answers your questions about homeland security, gang prevention and illegal immigrants.
-
Photos of the weekSee the major events of the week as caught in the lenses of Associated Press photographers.
-
Global financial meltdownA look at the global impact of the financial crisis, with market data and summaries of plans for several countries.
-
Compare attack adsThe Associated Press evaluates two negative ads getting attention in the presidential campaign.
-
Campaign Trail Photos of the WeekView photos from the past week on the campaign trail from AP photographers around the country.
-
Big Yellow Mountain Hike slideshowFall colors are peaking now in the higher elevations. Arthur Griffith of the Nature Conservancy led a small group of hikers up to the bald on Big…
-
Photos of the week
See the major events of the week as caught in the lenses of Associated Press photographers.
-
Global financial meltdown
A look at the global impact of the financial crisis, with market data and summaries of plans for several countries.
-
Compare attack ads
The Associated Press evaluates two negative ads getting attention in the presidential campaign.
-
Campaign Trail Photos of the Week
View photos from the past week on the campaign trail from AP photographers around the country.
-
Big Yellow Mountain Hike slideshow
Fall colors are peaking now in the higher elevations. Arthur Griffith of the Nature Conservancy led a small group of hikers up to the bald on Big…
Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.