The lowest level of DUI is a misdemeanor, and most first-time DUIs are charged that way. However, there are certain circumstances that can turn a misdemeanor DUI into a felony.
Whether you get charged with a misdemeanor or felony can greatly affect your punishment. Felonies are considered much more serious crimes and can result in more than a year in prison and hefty fines. On the other hand, misdemeanors usually result in less than a year in jail and potentially lesser fines.
Drunken-driving laws vary by state, but in general, here are three ways that a misdemeanor DUI can become a felony:
Depending on your state’s laws, there could be other ways in which your misdemeanor DUI becomes a felony. And there are other factors – like whether you were convicted of DUI as a juvenile or whether your DUI conviction was expunged – that can also affect the outcome of your case.
That’s why, if you’re facing a drunken-driving charge, it’s best to consult an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible.
Related Resources:
- Don’t face a DUI alone. Get your case reviewed
- by a lawyer for free now. (Consumer Injury)Lawmakers face long odds in expanding felony DUI definition (The Seattle Times)
- DUI Habitual Offenders: What Are the Consequences? (FindLaw’s Blotter)
- What Is a DUI Causing Injury in Arizona? (FindLaw’s Phoenix DUI Blog)
- At DUI Checkpoints, Are Drug Swabs Legal? (FindLaw’s Blotter)
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