Felony DUI Attorneys in Sacramento
In California, there are three main situations in which the district attorney might choose to charge someone with a Felony DUI:
- there was bodily injury to a person other than the person being charged
- the person being charged is on their 4th DUI (or more) within a period of 10 years
- the person being charged has at least one prior felony DUI charge on their record.
Some DUI felonies are also termed "wobblers." Wobblers are punishable either by confinement in county jail or state prison. Wobblers differ from straight felonies in the punishment imputed and in the post-conviction relief available. If a wobbler is punished by incarceration in county jail and probation is imposed upon release, then the defendant may petition the court to reduce the felony dui to a misdemeanor. If granted, the conviction will be considered a misdemeanor.
There are some important differences between misdemeanor and felony DUI cases, that a Sacramento DUI Attorneys can help you fight. These include but not limited to:
- Significant differences in possible penalties; felony DUI convictions carry more serious penalties than misdemeanors.
- Felony DUI cases are more likely to go to trial; the risk of negative consequences is much greater, so these cases are more aggressively fought.
- The likelihood that the sentence will be served in a California state prison instead of a county jail
- The possibility of an additional charge of vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide where there was a death in conjunction with the drunk driving
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Criminal Defense Attorneys of Sacramento today!
(916) 444-2960 -- info@sacdefense.com