DUI Felony In Alabama
If you were recently arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Alabama, did you know that the offense could be classified as a felony? Indeed, state law specifies a number of instances where a DUI—typically a misdemeanor crime—can be treated as a felony charge. Here’s what you need to know about felony DUI in Alabama.
Extenuating Circumstances
Although most DUIs are misdemeanors, in cases involving “extenuating circumstances,” the charge may be enhanced to a felony. For example, if you have been convicted of four or more DUIs in the previous five years, a subsequent offense will be treated as a felony. Similarly, if you were arrested following a serious car accident that caused extensive damage and/or resulted in the death or injury of some other person, you will almost certainly be charged with felony DUI for your behavior.
In addition to the scenarios listed above, a DUI may be classed as a felony offense if you were traveling with an underage rider, driving in a school zone, or exceeding the posted speed limit by 30 miles or more. If your driver’s license was suspended at the moment of your arrest or you were stopped by the police with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.16 percent or higher, your offense will be treated as a felony.
Penalties For Felony DUI
If you are charged with felony DUI, regardless of the circumstances involving your arrest, you will encounter some very strict sentencing guidelines. In addition to losing your driver’s license for five years or over, you can expect to spend one to ten years in prison (depending on the circumstances) and pay up to $10,000 in fines. A felony conviction will also revoke a number of civil liberties, including the right to vote, buy firearms, and travel outside the country.
Last but not least, if you are convicted of felony DUI, your guilty verdict will stick with you long after you have served your sentence. A felony conviction can have a significant impact on your personal life, ranging from paying two to three times more for auto insurance to being ineligible for certain housing, academic, and employment opportunities.
The good thing is that being charged with felony DUI is a long way from being convicted of the crime. In fact, our attorneys have assisted many clients in having their DUI reduced to a misdemeanor or, in some cases, completely dismissed.
Because the penalties for a DUI conviction can be severe, you should not be afraid to seek a strong DUI defense. By hiring an attorney to investigate and negotiate on your behalf, you may be able to avoid some of these penalties. Depending on how officers handled your case and how evidence was processed or gathered, your charges may be reduced or dropped in some cases. In other cases, people facing DUI charges recognize that they require assistance. The state will sometimes offer plea bargains and reduced charges to people who are willing to go to rehab or who are taking steps to improve their lives. Alcoholism is a disease, and some people require treatment rather than incarceration.
To determine the ideal defense strategy for your case, submit your information online today for a free case evaluation by one of our experienced DUI attorneys.