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Resources / NC Chapter 20 / Article 3 / Part 12. Sentencing; Penalties

North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 20

G.S. 20-177. Penalty for felony

The full text of G.S. 20-177 (Penalty for felony), with plain-English commentary from North Carolina DWI defense attorneys Chris Adkins and Chris Purkey in the side column. Article 3: Motor Vehicle Act of 1937.

§ 20-177. Penalty for felony.

Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this Article herein or by the laws of this State declared to constitute a felony shall, unless a different penalty is prescribed herein or by the laws of this State, be punished as a Class I felon. (1937, c. 407, s. 138; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1; c. 179, s. 14.)

Official text of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-177 as published by the North Carolina General Assembly (Chapter 20 PDF, retrieved November 10, 2026). Verify the current version on ncleg.gov ↗.

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