Receiving a DUI is never something that you want to experience, but drunk driving charges are greenly considered relatively light charges in the full scope of charges one might receive. While it is true that many DUI charges are not as heavily penalized as other charges, DUI’s do come in a range of charges, some of which are fairly severe. This is especially true in the case of felony DUI charges.
There are a number of reasons a suspect may receive felony DUI charges. Most commonly, a DUI may rise to a felony if the suspect in question has an alleged blood alcohol content (BAC) that significantly exceeds the state’s legal limit. If, for instance, the legal limit is a BAC of .08, a suspect who takes a sobriety test that indicates a BAC of .20 may receive felony charges.
A driver’s sobriety (or alleged lack thereof) is not the only reason a DUI may rise to a felony charge. A number of other issues may complicate the matter, including any physical injuries suffered because of the driver, prior convictions the driver may have on his or her record or the presence of children in the car when an officer arrests a driver for driving under the influence.
If you face a felony DUI charge, you must begin building your defense as soon as you can. Felony convictions carry serious penalties, and may strip you of important privileges indefinitely, even after you serve any jail time included in the sentence. Make sure that you use every resource you have to keep your rights secure as you defend yourself and your future.