Orange County Felony DUI Lawyer

For a DUI to be considered a felony offense, one or more of the following conditions must be met:

1. The driver was under the influence, and their reckless behavior led to the death or injury of another individual. If another person has been injured or killed due to a driver under the influence, the court will determine if the person responsible will be given a felony charge based on the unique details of the case and the criminal history of the defendant.
2. The driver has previously received a DUI felony conviction within the last 10 years. If the driver has already received a DUI felony conviction in the last 10 years, then they will automatically receive another felony DUI charge if caught driving under the influence again, no matter the circumstances of the new case.
3. The driver has received, within a 10-year time frame, three previous DUI convictions. The court is less lenient on repeat offenders. Every time you are charged with and convicted of a DUI, even a misdemeanor DUI, the penalties are likely to become more severe.

Penalties for Felony DUI

In general, felonies are punished much harsher than misdemeanors. The same is true of felony DUIs. If you are convicted of a felony DUI in Orange County or anywhere in the state of California, you face serious consequences that threaten your driving privileges, your finances, and even your freedom.

Penalties for felony DUI involving multiple DUI convictions include:

• Up to $1,000 in fines
• 30 months (two and a half years) of DUI school
• Mandatory driver’s license suspension for a period of four years
• Up to three years in state prison

Penalties for felony DUI involving bodily injury and/or death include: 

• Up to $5,000 in fines
• 30 months (two and a half years) of DUI school
• Mandatory driver’s license suspension for a period of five years
• 16 months to 16 years in state prison