Although a DUI charge is common, it can have a lasting impact on your life, especially if it is a Felony charge. A conviction for Felony DUI can result in imprisonment, fines, and a permanent criminal record that can impact your future career. Talking to a Boca Raton Felony DUI Lawyer for advice may be the best means of defending yourself against these criminal charges.
A Felony conviction can harm your job prospects, housing options, and the ability to support yourself. Avoiding or minimizing the effects of a Felony DUI charge on your life can be critical to protecting your future. Engage the services of one of our skilled criminal Attorneys to fight back against your Felony DUI charges.
Defining DUI Under State Law
Florida Statutes §316.193 states that individuals can face DUI charges when they drive or are in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence or any other chemical substance. Although the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for DUI is .08 percent, individuals can face DUI charges, even if their BAC does not reach that level. As a Felony DUI Attorney in Boca Raton may advise, if the individuals were too impaired by alcohol or drugs to operate their vehicles safely, they could face DUI charges.
Circumstances Resulting in Felony DUI Charges
Although DUI charges are usually a Misdemeanor under state law, Felony DUI charges can arise in various circumstances. A Felony DUI conviction carries the potential for more significant penalties than Misdemeanor DUI charges. Individuals who are facing Felony DUI charges may wish to consult a Felony DUI Lawyer in Boca Raton for advice.
Prior DUI Convictions
Under Florida Statutes §316.193, individuals who commit a third DUI offense within ten years of a previous conviction will face third-degree Felony DUI charges. Likewise, anyone who commits a fourth or subsequent DUI offense, regardless of when their prior convictions occurred, is subject to Felony DUI charges.
DUI Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
A DUI offense that results in serious bodily injury to another also is a third-degree Felony. Florida Statutes §316.1933 provides that serious bodily injuries constitute a physical condition that creates a significant risk of death, major disfigurement, or extended loss or impairment of any bodily or organ function.
DUI Manslaughter
Individuals can face second-degree Felony charges for committing a DUI that results in the death of another or an unborn child. This situation also can result in first-degree Felony charges in some circumstances.
Penalties for Felony DUI Convictions
A third-degree Felony DUI conviction can result in a prison sentence of a maximum of five years and a fine of up to $5,000. A fourth or subsequent DUI conviction is also a third-degree Felony conviction, but this conviction requires that the fine be a minimum of $2,000.
For a third DUI conviction within ten years, individuals must pay for the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device for at least two years if they qualify for a permanent or restricted license. Individuals also must serve a minimum sentence of incarceration of 30 days, and at least 48 hours of those 30 days must be consecutive.
Furthermore, as a condition of their probation, the vehicles of these individuals also will be subject to impoundment or immobilization for 90 days. The impoundment or immobilization cannot occur concurrently with the incarceration of these individuals. However, some circumstances allow the court to dismiss the impoundment or immobilization order, such as if family members have no other means of transportation.
Call a Boca Raton Felony DUI Attorney for More Information
If you are facing Felony DUI charges, you may be concerned about the impact of these charges and a potential conviction on your personal and professional life. You likely will want to take the steps necessary to minimize the effects of these charges to the highest degree possible. Getting the advice and counsel of a Boca Raton Felony DUI Lawyer at Leifert & Leifert may be highly beneficial to you.
Various defenses may be available in Felony DUI cases. To learn more about the available options for defending yourself against these charges, contact legal counsel. Seeking out the advice that you need in this situation can be crucial to a positive outcome in your case.
