A felony DUI is a higher charge than a typical DUI. It is usually charged when a person injures someone else, has prior convictions or has a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) well above the limit. If you are involved in an accident or face a felony DUI, a strong defense can help you protect yourself.
One reason you might face a felony DUI is if you have a BAC over the state’s elevated BAC limit. This is usually around .16. At that level, the state has the possibility of imposing harsher penalties on you, which could include a longer prison sentence or heavy fines.
If you get into an accident and cause harm to another person, then you can face a felony charge. Your attorney may be able to have this charge dropped to a misdemeanor with the right application of the law.
Finally, if you have had prior convictions, it’s a good idea to speak with your attorney as soon as possible. Having a prior conviction makes it more likely that you’ll face a felony charge for driving under the influence. Typically, the law recognizes a DUI within the last 10 years when considering prior convictions. You may face harsher penalties the closer together the DUIs are, because it may be perceived that you are a more immediate danger to those around you.
Your attorney can help you by listening to what happened and looking for mistakes the authorities made when arresting you. He or she may be able to help you challenge the evidence or have the charges reduced, so you can face penalties that are only equal to the level of your actions.
Source: FindLaw, “Felony DUI,” accessed June 19, 2017
