Marietta Felony DUI Charges
Legal Guidance from a Criminal Attorney in Marietta
As former prosecutors, the criminal defense lawyers at Henrickson &
Sereeburtra have insight into both sides of the law. They understand how
prosecutors build their cases and how to anticipate their moves. An important
part of DUI defense is
challenging DUI evidence at each opportunity in the case. There is no doubt the quality of your
defense lawyer could be extremely important with regard to the outcome
of your case.
The firm's extensive history serving on "the other side"
allows them to have an exceptional understanding of the process, how to
operate within the system for our clients, and how to present a compelling
case at trial. The legal team does not take on felony DUI charges lightly
– they know how difficult life will be for a client who is convicted.
How can a DUI become a felony offense?
A driver with a
blood alcohol content (BAC) measure of 0.08 % or higher is legally too impaired to operate a motor
vehicle safely, under Georgia state law. The legally allowed BAC limit
is lower for drivers under 21 and commercial drivers. A person with blood
alcohol content over the legal limit will face arrest and
DUI charges. All DUI allegations are serious and there are consequences if the driver
is found guilty. A DUI is either a misdemeanor or felony offense.
A first time offender with a clean record may receive a light sentence
or dismissal, but will still be required to pay fines, face a period of
license suspension, and other hidden costs, including higher insurance rates. For drivers
with up to three DUI offenses the penalties increase, but the crime is
still in the misdemeanor category. The fourth DUI within 10 years becomes
an automatic felony per Georgia House Bill 336. Anyone accused of a DUI
needs to seek legal advice and guidance from an experienced Marietta DUI attorney.
Other Felony DUI Situations
There are circumstances other than the fourth DUI charge, that can qualify
for a felony DUI. A drunk driver might face a felony DUI if the following
happened in conjunction with the DUI incident:
-
Caused an accident that resulted in
personal injury or wrongful death
- Committed additional crimes or extensive property damage
- Transported a minor child
A felony conviction carries harsher penalties than a misdemeanor. It can
mean a fine ranging from $1,000-$5,000, 1 to 5 years imprisonment, 60
days of community service, and serve 5 years probation. The court can
order the offender to complete a drug and alcohol abuse program/treatment.
The driver may lose driving privileges through license suspension or revocation.
Additionally, the driver may be required to have an ignition interlock
device installed for a driver's license reinstatement.
You May Benefit from Our Dedicated DUI Defense
A felony conviction on any charge will impact your life forever. You will
be restricted from certain types of professional licenses, and can have
trouble in many other normal life activities, including getting a mortgage
or other loan, qualifying for job and other important issues. It could
not be more important that you get legal representation from a law firm
that will take your case in hand and do everything possible to help you
to fight back.
The legal team at the firm is professional, dedicated and accomplished in
criminal law. Should you need a DUI lawyer that truly knows trial law and how to craft
a case that can win in court, contact the Marietta firm for immediate
assistance. They care about each client, his or her case, and they fight
for any possible advantage at every step of the criminal justice process.
A felony DUI is a serious matter. You should
contact Henrickson & Sereebutra today for help with your DUI case!