CHARGES & PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH FELONY DUI
Felony DUI is a heightened charge imposed on an accused driver for a variety of reasons that contribute to the overall element of danger and recklessness that regularly accompanies drunken driving offenses. When a misdemeanor is graduated to a felony DUI, the potential penalties increase substantially. As intimidating as a felony DUI is, charges and trial procedures pale in comparison to the reality of conviction. An experienced San Francisco criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in an otherwise unwinnable felony DUI case.
Some situations that can lead to a felony DUI charge include:
- If The Allegedly Drunk Driver Is Accused Of Causing An Accident.
- If The Defendant Has Previously Been Convicted Of Felony DUI.
- If The Defendant Has Three Prior DUI Convictions Within A 10 Year Period.
Felony DUI convictions carry an increased minimum imprisonment of 180 days to 1 year with fines ranging up to $3,000. License suspensions for four years contribute to ongoing financial or social hardships, although the offender may apply for a special restricted drivers’ license after one year of suspension. Where lesser convictions may introduce the option of the ignition interlock device, felony DUI requires it in addition to successful completion of a DUI program.
Felony DUI Defense in San Francisco
Okabe & Haushalter consists of a team of accomplished legal professionals who have dedicated their lives to the advocacy of defendants’ rights. Our firm has a great depth of experience in a variety of areas within criminal law. For DUI charges, our approach includes an aggressive defense strategy that targets errors on the part of law enforcement or the prosecution as well as potentially defective blood alcohol testing equipment and more. We are passionate about the work we do for our clients and have proudly achieved favorable results in many cases.
If your DUI charge has been upgraded to a felony based on the specifics of the alleged crime, contact a San Francisco felony DUI attorney from our firm immediately.