Getting charged with a felony DUI can feel overwhelming and frightening. You may be concerned about how this will affect your future, your family, and your freedom. While a felony DUI is a serious charge, it doesn’t mean your life is over.
With a West Covina DUI lawyer, you can protect your rights and work toward the best possible outcome.
At Los Angeles DUI Lawyer, we connect you with the right West Covina felony DUI lawyer to meet your specific needs—at no cost to you. We can help you begin to take control of your situation. Let us help you get started on the path toward resolution.
What Is a Felony DUI?
Driving under the influence in California usually results in a misdemeanor, but certain circumstances can elevate the charge to a felony. Here’s when a DUI may be considered a felony in California:
- You Have Prior Felony DUI Convictions: If you’ve been convicted of a felony DUI in the past, any future DUI charges will automatically be treated as felonies, regardless of the circumstances.
- You Caused Serious Injury or Death: If your DUI resulted in an accident that caused significant injury or death to another person, it could be charged as a felony.
- You Have Multiple Prior DUIs: A fourth DUI within a 10-year period is typically charged as a felony, even if no one was injured.
Felony DUIs carry much harsher penalties than misdemeanor DUIs, including longer jail time, larger fines, and stricter probation terms. Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can help you get the legal representation you need.
Penalties for Felony DUI in California
If you’re convicted of a felony DUI, the consequences can be life-changing. Here’s what you could be facing:
- Prison Time: Felony DUIs often result in either a county jail or state prison sentence ranging from 16 months to 10 years, depending on the circumstances.
- Hefty Fines: Fines for felony DUIs can reach tens of thousands of dollars, not including court fees and other related costs.
- License Suspension: You could lose your driver’s license for several years or even face permanent revocation.
- Probation: Courts may impose strict probation terms, including mandatory alcohol education programs, regular check-ins, and ignition interlock devices.
- Criminal Record: A felony conviction stays on your record permanently, potentially affecting your ability to find a job, rent a home, or secure loans.
California DUI penalties are severe, but they’re not set in stone. That’s why having an experienced felony DUI attorney in West Covina fighting for your rights is so important.
Defenses to Felony DUI Charges
Just because you’ve been charged with a felony DUI doesn’t mean you’re guilty. There are many ways to challenge the charges and potentially reduce or dismiss them. Some common defenses include:
- Challenging the Traffic Stop: Police must have a valid reason to pull you over. If they didn’t, the evidence against you could be thrown out.
- Questioning the Breath or Blood Test: Breathalyzers and blood tests aren’t always accurate. Your lawyer can investigate whether the equipment was properly calibrated or if the test was administered correctly.
- Proving No Probable Cause: If the officer didn’t have enough evidence to justify your arrest, your case could be dismissed.
- Arguing Against Causation: In cases involving accidents, the prosecution must prove that your intoxication caused the crash. If other factors were involved, this could weaken their case.
Why You Need a West Covina Felony DUI Lawyer
A felony DUI charge is not something you can afford to handle alone. The stakes are high, and the legal system is complex. Here’s how an experienced West Covina felony DUI attorney can make a difference in your case:
Protect Your Rights
The legal system can be intimidating, and it’s easy for individuals to feel powerless when facing law enforcement and prosecutors. A DUI lawyer is your advocate, ensuring your rights are upheld at every stage of the process.
- Unlawful Arrests: If you were stopped or arrested without probable cause, your lawyer can challenge the legality of the arrest and potentially get key evidence thrown out.
- Improper Procedures: Attorneys make sure that law enforcement followed all protocols, such as administering breath or blood tests correctly. Any violations of your rights can work in your favor.
- Shielding You From Self–Incrimination: Your lawyer will advise you on what to say (and what not to say) to avoid unintentionally making your situation worse.
Build a Strong Defense
A felony DUI case is not one-size-fits-all. Every case is unique, and a good lawyer knows how to tailor a defense strategy to your specific circumstances.
- Thorough Investigation: An attorney will analyze every aspect of your case, from how the stop was conducted to the accuracy of field sobriety or chemical tests.
- Exposing Weaknesses: If the breathalyzer was improperly calibrated, if blood samples were mishandled, or if witnesses’ accounts don’t add up, lawyers use those weaknesses to your advantage.
- Presenting Alternative Explanations: A strong defense may involve proving that your actions or behavior were not due to intoxication but instead caused by other factors, such as medical conditions, fatigue, or environmental circumstances.
Negotiate on Your Behalf
While some cases go to trial, many felony DUI cases are resolved through plea negotiations. A skilled lawyer can advocate for a more favorable outcome, such as:
- Reduced Charges: A DUI lawyer can work to have your felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor, which carries significantly lighter penalties.
- Alternative Sentencing: In some cases, they may be able to negotiate for probation, community service, or participation in a rehabilitation program instead of jail or prison time.
- Minimized Penalties: Even if a conviction is unavoidable, attorneys fight to reduce the fines, jail time, or other consequences you face.
Having a lawyer who knows how to negotiate with prosecutors can make a world of difference in the outcome of your case.
Represent You in Court
Court proceedings can be complex, and prosecutors will present compelling arguments to secure a conviction.
- Courtroom Experience: Your lawyer handles everything, from filing motions to cross-examining witnesses, ensuring that your defense is presented effectively.
- Challenging the Evidence: DUI attorneys scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence and challenge anything that is inaccurate, unreliable, or obtained unlawfully.
- Compelling Advocacy: Your lawyer will present a strong, persuasive argument to the judge, always fighting for the best possible outcome for you.
Offer Compassionate Support
Facing a felony DUI charge can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. Beyond the legal stress, it’s an emotional time that impacts not only you but also your family and loved ones.
- Clear Communication: Your lawyer will explain the legal process in simple, straightforward terms, so you always know what’s happening and what to expect next.
- Availability: Questions? Concerns? They are there to provide answers and reassurance.
- Empathy: Criminal defense attorneys understand what you’re going through, and will treat you with respect and compassion while working tirelessly to protect your future.
Don’t Go Through This Alone
A felony DUI charge is a serious matter, but you don’t have to face it by yourself. With an experienced West Covina felony DUI lawyer, you’ll have someone in your corner who understands the law, knows how to fight for your rights, and genuinely cares about your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Felony DUIs
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions to help you better understand what you’re facing and what options might be available to you.
Will I Lose My License After a Felony DUI?
Yes, a felony DUI conviction in California typically results in a driver’s license suspension. The length of the suspension can vary depending on the circumstances of your case, such as prior DUI convictions or whether the incident involved injuries.
However, this doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily lose all driving privileges. You may have options:
- Restricted License: In some cases, you may qualify for a restricted license, which allows you to drive to essential places like work, school, or medical appointments.
- DMV Hearing Challenge: After a DUI arrest, you can request a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to contest the suspension. This hearing is separate from the criminal case and focuses solely on your driving privileges.
An experienced DUI lawyer can guide you through the DMV hearing process and help you explore opportunities to regain limited driving privileges.
Can a Felony DUI Be Reduced to a Misdemeanor?
Yes, under certain circumstances, a felony DUI charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor, which carries far less severe penalties. This is often possible when there is room to argue that the charges were elevated unnecessarily or that mitigating factors support a lesser charge.
A skilled DUI lawyer may work to reduce your charge by:
- Negotiating With Prosecutors: Your attorney can present evidence, highlight weaknesses in the case, or demonstrate your willingness to seek treatment or complete rehabilitation programs.
- Challenging Evidence: If critical evidence was obtained improperly—such as an unlawful traffic stop or inaccurate breathalyzer results—your lawyer can argue for reduced charges or even dismissal.
- Demonstrating Good Character: Your attorney may present evidence of your clean criminal record (if applicable), employment history, and contributions to the community to support a reduction.
Every case is unique, so the likelihood of a reduction depends on the specific details of your situation.
How Long Does a Felony DUI Stay on My Record?
A felony DUI conviction will stay on your criminal record permanently. This can have long-term consequences for your ability to find employment, secure housing, or obtain loans.
However, under certain circumstances, you may be able to have your felony DUI expunged from your record. Expungement means the conviction is dismissed, and while it won’t completely erase the record, it can prevent the conviction from being visible to most employers and landlords.
To qualify for expungement, you typically must:
- Complete Your Sentence: This includes serving any jail or prison time, completing probation, and paying all fines or restitution.
- Avoid New Convictions: You must not commit any additional crimes during or after your sentence.
- File a Petition: Expungement requires filing a formal request with the court and presenting your case before a judge.
An attorney can help you determine whether you’re eligible for expungement and guide you through the process to minimize the long-term impact of a felony DUI conviction.
If you have additional questions or concerns about your case, Los Angeles DUI Lawyer is here to help. Our free service connects you with experienced DUI lawyers who can provide the guidance and representation you need. Don’t face this alone—reach out today to explore your options and take the first step toward resolving your case.
Take Action Today
A felony DUI charge in West Covina is serious—but you don’t have to face it alone. Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can connect you with the best attorney for your situation. Don’t take chances with so much at stake. An experienced felony DUI lawyer in West Covina can fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future.
Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you. Call us today and let us connect you with an attorney for a free consultation. They’ll review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your options.
Your future is worth fighting for—let’s take the first step together.
