When you are arrested for a DUI, you will most likely be charged with a misdemeanor. However, there are some cases where you might face a felony DUI charge. Make sure to talk to your DUI lawyer about how you can have your DUI felony reduced to a misdemeanor.
The Consequences of a Felony DUI
If you receive a felony DUI, you will have a felony on your record. This is more detrimental than having a misdemeanor on your record. You are more likely to lose your driving privileges and this might be permanent. You will also not be able to own a firearm and a felony DUI can affect custody and visitation rights.
How to Receive a Felony DUI
A DUI charge will usually not end up becoming a felony unless there are other contributing factors. For example, if you have been convicted of a DUI in the past, you are more likely to receive a DUI conviction in the future.
The courts will try to use a felony DUI charge when they discover that a misdemeanor charge is not enough to deter you from driving while under the influence of alcohol. For this reason, it's important to make sure that you fight any DUI charges that you face with the help of a DUI lawyer. The more DUI charges on your record, the more that a judge may try to punish you.
Injuring or killing an individual or damaging property after you get into an accident can lead to felony DUI charges. Also, depending on the state in which you reside, you might be charged with a felony DUI if a child was in your car while you were driving.
Hire the Right DUI Lawyer
States can vary in terms of how strict they are when handling DUIs. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you work with a DUI lawyer who is licensed to practice in the state in which you are facing DUI charges.
Your Charges Might Be Reduced
You may be able to have your charges reduced because of mitigating factors. For example, if you engaged in good behavior after the accident and were cooperative, this might be a mitigating factor. Also, if your BAC was only a little over the legal limit, your DUI lawyer might be able to convince the judge to reduce your DUI charges so that you'll receive a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
Share14 March 2022
When it comes to your personal rights, how much do you really understand the law. About ten years ago, I realized that I didn't really understand my rights when I was accused of something that I knew I didn't do. I could tell that I needed to work with a lawyer who had a better understanding of what I was up against, so I contacted a local team that could help. They were really incredible to work with, and I was impressed with how well they were able to fight the charges. This blog is here for anyone struggling with legal drama.