Felony DUI
Trusted Long Beach DUI Defense Lawyers
Most
DUI charges in California are classified as misdemeanors. However, several factors may lead the
charges to be increased to
felony DUI, which come with increased penalties upon conviction. Felony DUI carries
a sentence including up to three years jail time, extended license revocation
and harsh fines. In addition to the specific sanctions associated with
the crime, being convicted of a felony in California carries ramifications
in and of itself. The felony conviction will be counted as one strike
on an individual's record, pursuant to the state's Three Strikes
law and the record stands to affect any future career or educational pursuits.
A DUI charge may be classified as a felony for four main reasons. First,
if an individual has four or more counts of DUI offense on their record
within a period of 10 years, the fourth and subsequent charges will be
classified as felony DUI and subject to the stricter punishments. Secondly,
if someone other than the driver is injured due to the impaired driving
of the defendant, the charge will be considered a felony DUI. The severity
of punishment for felony DUI with injury depends on the extent of the
victim's injury, property damage and the level of blood alcohol content
level taken at the scene of the arrest.
The third reason that a DUI charge may be changed to a felony is if there
was a minor under the age of 14 in the vehicle at the time that the arrest
was made. This is considered child endangerment and therefore punishable
by harsher penalties. Lastly, if there are any prior felony convictions
on record at the time of the DUI arrest, for any reason, the DUI will
be processed as a felony offense.
Long Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you were arrested for DUI and one or more of the factors above apply
to your situation, it is impertinent that you
contact a Long Beach criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Prosecution of felony DUI is known to be especially
aggressive, which is why you need an equally aggressive DUI attorney by
your side representing and defending your rights.
At the
Law Offices of Damone & Schroeder, we treat every one of our DUI clients with the same dedication. We can
help you defend against your charges by challenging the evidence presented
against you and arguing for a fair and balanced verdict. Contact our office
today and retain the assistance of nearly 40 years of combined legal experience.