What is the difference between felony and misdemeanor dui

A felony conviction can also come with additional consequences such as the loss of voting rights. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service.

Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Grow Your Legal Practice. However, any DUI conviction will likely result in fines, fees, and long-term penalties. A second or third DUI is still generally considered a misdemeanor offense and will carry mandatory jail time of up to a year. Even if a prior DUI arrest happened out of state, it may still count to add up to 3 prior DUIs or wet reckless convictions.

Having a DUI that involves a serious accident can also lead to felony charges. Felony DUI is one of the most serious crimes in California. An often-repeated DUI is considered as a felony.

Specifically, DUI is charged as a felony if an individual already has three prior misdemeanor convictions within a ten-year period. Besides that, killing or injuring someone while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is also charged as a felony.

Convictions under this crime could be life-altering, to say the least. Just like the previous DUI crime, convicted persons under felony lose their professional licenses and some rights. It is also not possible to adopt a child or access public housing, if convicted. If a driver does not have any prior DUI convictions in Colorado or any other state, they will be considered a first time DUI offender and charged with a misdemeanor offense. If the driver has a high BAC level, or if the driver causes an accident, then the penalties can increase depending on the severity of harm caused.

If a driver is arrested a fourth time for a DUI, then the offense will be treated as a class 4 felony. Colorado treats four DWAIs as a felony offense. Any felony conviction can affect housing, employment, and community support. A charge of DUI is a serious charge that requires a serious defense.