Have you recently been arrested for a DUI? You’re probably stressed out, and for good reason. Depending on the circumstances of your case and your criminal history, you may very well be facing felony DUI charges.
In most cases, a first, second, and third DUI offense will be charged as a misdemeanor, with increasing penalties each time. However, in some cases, even a first-time DUI can be charged as a felony. If you hurt someone, your DUI will likely be charged as a felony. It will most certainly be charged as a felony if you kill someone.
Felonies come with some pretty serious legal penalties, including prison time and fines. Let’s take a look at the penalties associated with felony DUIs in California.
A felony DUI conviction in California can land you in state prison for several years even if there were no injuries involved. At this point, you’ve likely been convicted of at least three prior DUIs, and prosecutors take that seriously.
DUIs with injuries usually lead to more time in prison than simple felony DUI charges. Vehicular manslaughter is likely to lead to the most time in prison if you’re convicted.
All that prison time comes in addition to steep fines—to the tune of thousands of dollars—and mandatory DUI treatment, as well as the potential loss of your drivers license.
If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence, you probably don’t know what to do or where to turn. Start by putting your finger on your phone’s call button—because you need to contact a lawyer ASAP.
The Sacramento DUI attorneys at Crowell Law Offices know how scary an arrest can be, especially if you think your drunk driving charge might be a felony. Get a free case evaluation when you call 916-303-2800, or reach us through the online contact form on our website.
