Not all DUIs are created equal. Some can be charged very aggressively and lead to years in prison, including felony DUI and DUI with injury. Keep reading to learn about these two types of charges and then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation with a DUI attorney.
Potential Punishments for DUI with Injury
DUI with injury is actually a wobbler, which means that the prosecution can decide if it should be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. They will make this decision based on the circumstances of the arrest and the criminal history of the defendant.
When a person is convicted of drunk driving in which someone other than the driver is injured, the charge can be misdemeanor driving under the influence with injury, which comes with potential punishments of up to five years of summary probation, five days to one year in county jail, fines of up to $5,000, and as long as 30 months in an alcohol program.
Misdemeanor convictions of this crime also result in the mandatory installation of an IID for six months if they want to drive without restriction, or a one-year license suspension and restitution for all parties who were injured.
If the person is convicted of felony DUI with injury, they could be sentenced to as little as 16 months and as much as ten years in prison. The length of the sentence depends on how many people were injured and how serious their injuries were. This can also be a strike via California’s three-strikes law.
Additional penalties include up to $5,000 in fines, as long as 30 months in a drug and/or alcohol program, Habitual Traffic Offender status for up to three years, IID installation for up to three years, and restitution to all injured parties.
Potential Punishments for Felony DUI
A person is generally charged with felony DUI if they have four or more DUIs within a ten-year period. Potential punishments can include up to three years in state prison, fines of up to $1,000, mandatory IID for at least one year, and designation as an HTO by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
If the DUI resulted in death, it would be sentenced very differently. This can lead to life in prison and a strike on your record.
Call Now if You Are Charged with a DUI
If you have been charged with a DUI in California, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 now for a free legal consultation. We are here to carefully listen to your side of the story and fight as hard as possible for your rights. Call us now, and we will get started.
