Felony DUI | Arizona DUI | AZ DUI Attorney

While most people believe that a driving under the influence (DUI) charge is a minor offense, it actually carries very serious penalties, even for just a first or second misdemeanor offense. For more serious drunk driving accidents and repeat offenses, the charge and punishment become much more severe. If you are a recurring drunk driver or are responsible for a drunk driving accident, you may be charged with a Felony DUI.

Drunk driving is first and foremost a crime, not just a driving offense. When you are convicted of a DUI, you will have a criminal record, which could hurt your professional, financial, and educational opportunities now and in the future. A Felony DUI carries similar penalties to a misdemeanor DUI but may also result in a prison sentence and even more limited freedoms.

Causing an Accident While Intoxicated

If you drive drunk and cause a collision, you may be charged with a felony. When you cause life-threatening or life-ending injury to another driver or passenger, or flee the scene of the accident, you are committing an aggravated offense. Some states will refer to the offense as an Aggravated DUI instead of a Felony DUI, but both are felony charges with elevated sentences.

Felony DUI from Recurring Charges

All states have an elevated charge for offenders who commit multiple drunk driving offenses in a set period of time. In Rhode Island, for example, you may be charged with a felony for your third DUI arrest in five years. While the first two charges were classified as misdemeanor, the third will be treated as a felony. All states have a similar law for repeat offenders. Typical punishment for a Felony DUI conviction includes:

Incarceration: at least 1 year in jail or prison, depending on the level of intoxication and severity of the accident, if any
Driver’s license suspension: at least 2 years
Fines of $400 or more
Vehicle impound and possible sale of your vehicle by the state
Ignition interlock installed on your car for at least 2 years after incarceration release
Mandatory DUI education course
Probation or parole
Felony conviction on your criminal record

Clearly a Felony DUI charge carries a number of costly penalties that can haunt you long into your future. If you are facing a Felony DUI, consider contacting a DUI defense lawyer immediately to begin preparing your defense.

For More Information

To learn more about protecting your rights and preparing a defense for court, please visit the website of experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly today.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: Felony DUI Charges and Penalties

About Felony DUI

By Joseph Devine –

Felony DUI

If you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving – say, you are swerving and speeding, or neglecting to follow traffic signals – then you may face a DUI charge. Typically, in the state of Washington, driving under the influence is considered to be a gross misdemeanor. Offenders face a fine of up to $5000 and a jail sentence of up to one year.

In certain cases, however, DUI is viewed as a felonious offense. Drivers who are unfortunate enough to receive a felony DUI charge face much more stringent penalties.

What is a felony?

In the United States, a felony is defined as any criminal act that is punishable by over a year in prison. Offenses that warrant a felony label tend to be more serious deeds, such as robbery, fraud, and murder. DUI can be placed on the same level as these grave actions if the offender meets certain requirements:

· Has already been charged with DUI 3 or more times in the past 10 years
· Has previously been convicted of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault while under the influence
· Commits DUI and vehicular assault or vehicular homicide at the same time

The last item on that list of felonious DUIs will carry with it more severe consequences than the previous two because of the extensive and severe damage it causes.

The Penalties for Felony DUI

In the state of Washington, felony DUI is considered to be a Class C felony. This category of felony is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to 5 years. Such a felony charge, however, is not applicable to those who commit DUI and vehicular homicide or vehicular assault concurrently.

Vehicular homicide and vehicular assault are more serious felony actions that carry with them harsher punishments than felony DUI. Vehicular assault is a Class B felony, which is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 and a jail term of up to 10 years. Vehicular homicide is a Class A felony, which is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

If you have been charged with felony DUI, or if you would like to learn more about this offense and the penalties associated with it, then the Seattle DUI defense lawyers Cowan, Kirk & Gaston can help. To speak with one of our qualified attorneys, please visit http://cowanlawfirm.com/ today.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Felony DUI Charges and Penalties

About Felony DUI

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