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The Consequences of Felony DUI Charges
Getting pulled over for drunk driving is scary enough. But a felony DUI charge? That’s a whole different ball game. Let’s break down what happens when you get charged with felony DUI.
What Makes a DUI a Felony?
Most first-time DUIs are misdemeanors. But in certain cases, the charges get bumped up to a felony. Specific factors turn a DUI into a felony DUI charge, including:
- Your BAC level – If it’s super high, like 0.15% or above, you’ll likely face a felony.
- Injuries or death – If you hurt or kill someone while driving drunk, prosecutors go for felony charges.
- Prior DUIs – Multiple DUIs on your record can lead to felony charges too.
- Kids in the car – Driving drunk with a minor passenger is an automatic felony in some states.
So felony DUIs are no joke. The punishments are way harsher than a regular DUI conviction. We’re talking years in prison or thousands in fines. Not fun.
What Happens After a Felony DUI Arrest?
Okay, so you got popped for a felony DUI. Now what? Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:Arrest and Processing – You’ll be arrested, fingerprinted, photographed. They might draw your blood or give you a breathalyzer test too.Booking and Bail – Next you’re booked into jail, where bail will be set, likely $5,000+. With a felony, bail tends to be higher.Charging Decision – The DA decides which felony DUI charges to file against you based on the circumstances of your case.Court Dates – Get ready for lots of ’em if decide to fight the charge. There will be hearings, procedural court dates, and eventually a trial if it goes that far.Plea Bargain – Many felony DUI cases end with plea deals instead of trials. But the pleas often still involve jail time.So in short – a felony DUI arrest means major court time and legal headaches for the foreseeable future.
Felony DUI Penalties and Punishments
If convicted of felony drunk driving, you’ll face severe sentences like:
- Jail Time – Felony DUIs bring years in jail or prison, not just days or months. Five years behind bars is common for repeat offenders.
- Fines – Expect fines and fees reaching $10,000 or more for a felony DUI conviction. The financial pain lasts long after the jail time ends.
- License Suspension – For felony DUIs, drivers can lose their licenses for a decade in some states. Long-term license suspension causes major life complications.
- Ignition Interlock – A common requirement to get driving privileges back is installing an ignition interlock device, which tests your BAC before letting you start the car.
- Probation – Most felony DUI sentences involve probation lasting a year or more. Violate the terms and you’re off to prison.
As you can see, a felony DUI on your record limits your freedom in life-changing ways. These cases must be taken seriously, with an aggressive legal defense to avoid harsh penalties.
Fighting Felony DUI Charges
Don’t just plead guilty and accept felony punishment for a drunk driving arrest. There are defenses an experienced DUI lawyer can raise to get the charges reduced or dismissed. Like arguing…
- You weren’t actually impaired according to objective sobriety test evidence
- The blood or breath test results were flawed due to sloppy procedures
- Your BAC was actually below the legal limit
- Mitigating circumstances explain the reckless driving behavior
- You were unlawfully pulled over and detained in violation of your rights
Poking holes in the prosecution’s case could lead to dropped charges or a lower misdemeanor plea deal. But felony DUIs call for legal firepower – a skilled DUI attorney who knows how to win.
Long-Term Consequences of a Felony DUI
Beyond fines and jail time, a felony DUI conviction has lasting effects on your life for years to come, like:
- Employment Issues – Good luck finding a decent job with a recent felony conviction on your record. Many employers won’t touch you.
- Lost Civil Rights – Felons often lose rights like voting, jury duty service, gun ownership and running for public office.
- Social Stigma – The social shame, community isolation and personal loneliness felons face is soul-crushing.
- Travel Limitations – Crossing international borders into certain countries gets much harder once you have a felony on your record.
- Background Check Problems – Landlords, lenders and schools will shut doors in your face after running background checks.
In other words, beyond the immediate sentencing penalties, expect to feel the negative impacts of a felony DUI for the next decade or more. There’s really no bouncing back quickly from this kind of criminal conviction. It will alter the entire trajectory of your life.
Finding Hope After a Felony DUI Charge
With your freedom, finances and future at stake, it’s easy to feel hopeless after a felony DUI arrest. But there are still options to protect yourself. The first step? Call up an experienced criminal defense attorney in your state. Explain your situation and set up a case evaluation.An esteemed DUI defense lawyer will review the arrest details, analyze the prosecutor’s felony charging decision, and outline possible defenses to fight the allegations in court. This expert legal perspective may uncover strengths in your case you never realized.Armed with this insider know-how, the facts may not seem so scary. An aggressive attorney can expose flaws in the evidence and work to get charges lowered or dropped entirely. Don’t leave your fate up to chance. The right lawyer can make all the difference.While a felony DUI charge certainly causes major turmoil initially, the situation is not past hope. Smart legal moves could lead to a hugely better outcome – maybe even avoiding a devastating felony conviction. So don’t delay in consulting an attorney. The sooner you start fighting, the more legal options you’ll have. The stakes are sky-high, but skilled DUI defense lawyers win “unwinnable” cases all the time. So reach out for help and breathe that sigh of relief once an attorney takes over the heavy lifting for you.