Felony DUI | LA Drunk Driving Attorneys
Most DUI arrests in Los Angeles are prosecuted as misdemeanors under California Vehicle Code section 23152. However, even a first offense DUI can be charged as a felony if your drunk driving arrest involves a collision resulting in serious injuries. Commonly referred to as Felony DUI, drunk driving arrests involving aggravating circumstances, such as causing an accident resulting in injuries to another or committing your 4th DUI offense or more within the last 10 years of your first conviction is prosecuted under the following 2 sections of the California Vehicle Code:
VC 23153(a)
It is unlawful for a person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.
VC 23153(b)
It is unlawful for a person, while having 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.
If you have been arrested for a DUI with injury in Los Angeles, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced Los Angeles drunk driving attorney with expertise in defending Felony DUI and DUI with injury charges in both the criminal courts and DMV Driver Safety Offices. Since 1987, LA criminal defense lawyers Stephen Sitkoff & Eugene Hanrahan have specialized in defending misdemeanor and Felony DUI charges in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Mr. Hanrahan is a former federal prosecutor and senior Los Angeles County deputy district attorney. Mr. Sitkoff is a former senior prosecutor and former Superior Court Commissioner. Collectively, our Los Angeles DUI defense firm possesses over 70 years of combined criminal and DUI trial experience. Call our office West LA office now at (888) 579-4844 for a free consultation to learn what your defense options are and how we can help.
Is DUI With Injury A Felony Or Misdemeanor In Los Angeles?
DUI with injury is considered a “wobbler” offense in California. Therefore, DUI charges prosecuted under VC 23153(a) and VC 23153(b) can be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the degree of bodily injury sustained by the victim. Conversely, a DUI causing a non-traumatic injury would likely be charged as a misdemeanor DUI with injury. Drunk driving offenses involving both minor and serious bodily injury are pursued aggressively by Los Angeles prosecutors, and the consequences are especially severe if you are facing Felony DUI charges.
Los Angeles DUI With Injury Penalties
The sentencing you face if charged with VC 23153(a) and VC 23153 (b) is influenced by several factors, most notably whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony DUI with injury. As a wobbler offense, a felony DUI can be reduced to a misdemeanor by way of plea negotitations, and in some circumstances, negotiated down even lower to the non-injury misdemeanor DUI statute, VC 23152. The following are the potential penalties you face if convicted of a first offense DUI with injury in LA:
As A Misdemeanor:
- Up to 1 year in LA County Jail
- Up to $5,000 fine
- Informal (unsupervised) or Formal (supervised) probation for up to five years
- Alcohol and/or drug education program
- Driver’s license suspension
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- 2 points on DMV Record
- Complete Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Complete Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community service or labor
As A Felony:
- Up to 4 year in California State Prison
- Up to $5,000 fine
- Formal (supervised) probation for up to five years
- Alcohol and/or drug education program
- Driver’s license suspension
- Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
- 2 points on DMV Record
- Complete Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victims impact panel
- Complete Hospital and Morgue (HAM) program
- Community service or labor
- Felony strike under California 3 Strikes Law
In addition to the criminal sentence, a felony conviction can result in other losses of liberties. Even after you complete your sentence, a felony conviction would mean:
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Additional Felony DUI With Injury Charges
In Los Angeles, a DUI charge can be elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony based on specific aggravating factors, leading to harsher penalties. If a driver under the influence of alcohol causes an accident that results in the death of another person, the crime can be charged as a felony offense. This is known as a DUI causing death or vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Felony DUIs enhancements can result from any type of bodily injury or significant property damage.
Apart from bodily harm, a DUI charge can be elevated to a felony if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration is significantly above the legal threshold. While the legal limit in Los Angeles is 0.08% for individuals 21 and older if a driver’s BAC is 0.15% or higher, a felony charge can result.
Previous DUI convictions can also lead to a DUI charge being elevated to a felony. Even if previous charges were misdemeanors, a subsequent DUI offense can be charged as a felony.
Extra-Legal Penalties After a DUI Conviction
In addition to jail time and fines, a drunk driving conviction can result in an array of extra-legal penalties. While these consequences aren’t addressed directly by the court, outside state, and private institutions can enforce a breadth of actions that can significantly impact an individual’s mobility and financial well-being. These penalties include:
- License suspension, license revocation, or restricted license
- Higher auto insurance premiums due to perceived reckless driving behavior
- Revocation of professional licenses, including loss of commercial driver’s license
- Job loss and reduced employment prospects due to a criminal record
- Damage to personal reputations, familial relationships, and overall social status
- Loss of legal immigration status, which can include deportation hearings
Call Our Los Angeles Felony DUI Attorneys Now For A Free Case Review
If you have been arrested for a misdemeanor or felony DUI with injury, do not delay and contact us now at (310) 312-8055 for a free consultation to discuss your case and options at our main office in West Los Angeles, or our satellite office locations in Torrance, Pasadena, Glendale, Long Beach, Encino, Woodland Hills, West Covina, Oxnard, Westlake Village, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach.