Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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Driving under the influence, more commonly referred to as DUI, is illegal in every state.
However, the consequences of this offense can be classified as either a felony or misdemeanor. The type of offense you get depends on the situation and where you are charged with the DUI.
A DUI applies if your driving is impaired for any valid reason related to substance use. This includes if your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit or while driving under the influence of illicit substances. As a general rule, a first offense DUI is more likely to be a misdemeanor charge. A repeated offense is more likely to warrant a felony charge.
In some states, the punishment for either DUI charge involves jail time. However, the punishment for a misdemeanor is typically less severe. A felony DUI is a more serious charge and can lead to incarceration in a state prison for over a year.
These are the most common consequences for both types of DUI charges:
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The majority of first-time DUI arrests involve misdemeanor charges.
If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you have the right to a trial to defend yourself. A conviction may still lead to civil restrictions, including difficulties finding a job and loss of firearm permits. However, these restrictions are much less prominent than those that result in a felony charge.
The following factors generally apply when determining a misdemeanor DUI charge:
If it is your first arrest, or potentially your first conviction, the consequences are usually less severe. This is only true if there are no other factors involved, such as high blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
If your blood alcohol level is below 0.15, there is a better chance to avoid felony charges.
These are certain factors that can elevate a misdemeanor charge to a felony charge.
Factors that elevate misdemeanor DUI cases to felony offenses are called aggravating factors. Felony convictions are life-altering and usually result in lost professional licenses, voting rights, and public housing benefits.
The following aggravated factors generally apply when determining a misdemeanor DUI charge:
Police in every jurisdiction have the right to stop any vehicle suspected of impaired driving.
During any such stop, officers will ask drivers if they have consumed alcohol or drugs.The driver is also required to provide a valid license, proof of car ownership, and insurance documents.
You do not have the right to consult a lawyer before performing a roadside test. The police will make a judgment about your ability to drive safely based on a number of observations, tests, and samples, including:
You have the right to have a lawyer present if an officer arrests you and takes you to a police station or medical facility for further testing.
The time between arrest and conviction for a DUI is referred to as the processing phase. This involves gathering all evidence needed for admissibility in court. Processing is always done before any convictions are made.
An arraignment is usually the first court appearance for a DUI case. Timeframes in which arraignments must be held differ between states, but it is typically somewhere between 36 and 96 hours of the initial arrest.
Defendants in DUI cases may enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This happens during the arraignment or at a special plea hearing, depending on the jurisdiction.
Defendants are usually entitled to a preliminary hearing following arraignment, though in some jurisdictions preliminary hearings only proceed in felony cases.
At preliminary hearings, the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to establish “probable cause” that the defendant is guilty of the DUI charge. These hearings are mainly in place to dismiss cases where evidence is too weak to warrant going to trial. If there is sufficient evidence, but the defendant pleads not guilty, a trial will be scheduled.
In most instances, DUI defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial, though many cases are resolved beforehand through plea bargaining. Trial procedures vary, but they generally consist of more than six jurors, the prosecutor, the defendant, and the defense attorney.
Following opening statements, evidence is presented by both sides. This concludes with the jury delivering a verdict after private deliberation.
If the defendant is guilty of a DUI conviction, the judge will set a sentencing hearing. Depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances of the case, a DUI sentence might include:
Generally, the severity of DUI consequences depends heavily on if the case was classified a misdemeanor or a felony. However, all of the above may be warranted in certain misdemeanor cases if there are other circumstances involved.
Of course, it's best to avoid drinking and driving altogether by having a designated driver plan in place. Additionally, you may have to learn how much alcohol is too much to drink in a safe location such as your own home or a friend's house.
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