It is Important To Understand the Difference Between a Felony DUI or Misdemeanor DUI Case
DUI, short for “driving under the influence,” convictions can make life difficult. They cause stress in the present moment and also have the ability to bring a lot of stress in the unforeseen future. So, what makes DUI convictions a misdemeanor or a felony? Are there any differences?
While a lot of people consider misdemeanor charges to be less of a big deal compared to felony charges, the truth is that any criminal conviction is always big deal. While it is good to avoid criminal convictions, misdemeanors aren’t likely to have such a huge impact on your life as felonies. A considerable number of employers still ask for information about prior misdemeanor charges and arrests, but some companies don’t have a problem with misdemeanors. However, they’ll want to know if there are any felony charges against you, and they will perform a criminal background check to verify your answer.
What You Need to Know About DUI Charges
If you’re unfortunate enough to have a DUI charge, the last thing you might be thinking of is if your charge is a misdemeanor or a felony. DUI charges have several levels of intensity, and it is worth knowing the things that will determine if you get a misdemeanor or a felony. They include the following:
- Whether it is your first offense or not
- Whether or not you have a valid license to drive
- Injuries brought about by the accident
- Whether or not there is a child under the age of 15 years in the vehicle
- Read more on DUI Penalties
Misdemeanor DUI convictions often result in jail time, fines and temporary loss of driving privileges. The severity of the punishment, however, is dependent on how many prior DUI convictions you have and the blood alcohol level. First DUI convictions, with a valid driver’s license, are usually considered misdemeanors; the same is true with a Second DUI offense, with a valid driver’s license. A third offense, within seven years, whether or not one has a valid driver’s license, is a felony offense.
