What Makes An Edinboro DUI A Felony?

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Attorney Grant Travis | Travis Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorney, DUI Defense Attorney, Criminal Defense Attorney | Serving Erie, Crawford, Warren & all of Northwestern PA | Call the Travis Law Firm at 814-277-2222 today!

Traffic violations are classified as felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions. The level assigned to the traffic violation depends on the seriousness of the act. For example, a broken tail light or a parking violation is usually considered an infraction. However, more serious traffic violations are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

A felony is the most serious charge you can face for a traffic violation. Some charges may be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the factors present in the case. A charge of driving under the influence is one of the charges that can be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Because you could be facing serious penalties for a conviction of a felony DUI, we strongly urge you to contact our Edinboro DUI attorney right away. It is crucial that our attorneys begin working on your case as soon as possible to search for defense options. Call (800) 401-2066 to schedule a free consultation with our Edinboro DUI attorney.

What Factors Are Used When Determining a DUI Charge?

Several factors are used when determining whether to charge you with a felony DUI or a misdemeanor DUI.

Number of DUI Offenses

The number of prior DUI convictions you have is a factor used in deciding whether to charge you with a felony or misdemeanor. Under Pennsylvania law, any DUI convictions without the past 10 years can impact your current charge. Regardless of other factors, if this is your third DUI charge, you will be charged with felony DUI. If convicted, you face up to 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, and suspension of your driver’s license for a year.

Blood Alcohol Level

Pennsylvania uses three categories of impairment for drivers over the age of 21 years. General impairment is a blood alcohol level between .08 to .0999. A high rate of impairment is a blood alcohol level between .10 to .159, and the highest rate of impairment is a blood alcohol level of .16 or higher. Obviously, the higher your BAC, the more likely you are to be charged with a more severe DUI offense.

DUI Accidents

If you cause a DUI accident that results in property damage, bodily injury, or death, you could face a felony DUI charge. This could happen even if your BAC is at the lowest level required by law, .08. If you are involved in a DUI accident, it is imperative that you contact our office to consult with an Edinboro DUI attorney as soon as possible. You could be facing additional charges if you caused an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Call an Edinboro DUI Attorney

The discussion above is a broad overview of a felony DUI. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we can help. You should exercise your right to remain silent except for calling your attorney.

Contact The Travis Law Firm toll-free at (800) 401-2066 to schedule a free consultation with an Edinboro DUI attorney. We don’t assume you are guilty just because you are charged with a crime and neither should you. There could be one or more valid legal defenses to your charges. Call our office to discuss your legal options regarding a DUI charge.