If an individual is convicted of a third DUI offense or subsequent offense in the Commonwealth of Virginia, by statute it is a felony. There are also other ways a person could face felony charges for a DUI. For example, a drunk driver who caused a wreck that lead to a substantial injury to someone else would be facing felony charges. Felony charges carry severe penalties, therefore, if you have been arrested for a felony DUI offense, consult with a seasoned DUI attorney today. Let a Fredericksburg felony DUI lawyer advocate on your behalf.
Felony DUIs carry much harsher penalties than misdemeanor DUI charges. In most circumstances, felony DUI offenses are classified as a Class 6 felony. This means that depending on the nature of the offense, the individual may be facing certain mandatory minimum jail time. For instance, a third DUI offense within 10 years carries a mandatory minimum of 90 days and a third offense within five years has a mandatory minimum of six months.
A felony DUI, in addition to being a serious felony conviction, will have a variety of other collateral consequences, including potential indefinite loss of driving privileges, expensive fines, and long jail sentences. This is why it is essential for defendants to reach out to a well-established Fredericksburg felony DUI attorney.
Felony DUI cases have much more on the line than for a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense. Typically, a felony offense shows that the individual has been to court numerous times previously for a DUI charge. This means that the court and the prosecutor are less likely to be lenient with the defendant. Someone facing a felony charge is looking at a serious loss of rights if convicted as well as prison time. Therefore, they should contact a Fredericksburg felony DUI lawyer who has experience building a strong defense.
After someone obtains a lawyer, the attorney will investigate all aspects of the case to determine which defense strategies are available. This is why it is important for the defendant to tell the attorney all the information they have with regards to the incident. In a DUI case, there could be Constitutional issues, problems with the blood or breath testing, as well as other common issues.
A Fredericksburg felony DUI lawyer could help a defendant evaluate the strengths of their case. The attorney could see how likely it is for the case to be reduced or mitigated through negotiation and what the local judge or jury may consider as a punishment if the person is found guilty. These are issues that an individual will want to consider if they are facing a felony offense.
If you are facing charges for a felony DUI, you may want to seek the services of an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner a dedicated Fredericksburg felony DUI lawyer is contacted, the sooner they could begin working on your important case.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group
