Even if someone has only had a couple of drinks at a party, and is wrongly arrested for a felony DUI on the way home, the charges are nothing to sneeze at. That person needs the help of a licensed DUI legal specialist right away, because a felony DUI indictment is a very serious matter. When, because of drugs or alcohol, a driver fails to safely operate a motor vehicle, he or she is considered to have committed a crime the minute their car pulls onto the street. DWI/DUI charges are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Both are serious charges, but the felony indictment can have much grimmer consequences.
Technically, it is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or above. It matters not what type of motor vehicle it is. It could be a boat, a motorcycle, a car or even the family lawnmower, if it is moving down a public street or highway. If someone’s blood alcohol level is too high, it is a crime to be driving at all. Couple this offense with causing someone else bodily harm or even death, and felony DUI charges will result.
The punishment for a felony DUI is much harsher than that of a misdemeanor. A felony DUI can mean the difference between a brief stay in a county jail for misdemeanor DUI charges, to a long sentence that is served in a Federal prison. The whole experience can change someone’s life and lead to a chain reaction of bad luck. As anyone who has been convicted of a felony DUI can attest, life suddenly becomes more difficult after a conviction. It is harder to rent a house, get a loan, go to school or be hired for a job.
Fortunately, a competent DUI legal specialist can make sure the accused is represented fairly and that his or her rights are protected. At times, the competent DUI attorney can even get the charges dropped altogether. This is why it is so important to seek help immediately when charged with a felony DUI.
