Felony DWI Charges: Understanding Where They Come From
Lately, local and national news reporters have spent more time covering the dangers of drunk driving especially as it relates to repeat offenders, accidents, and situations where a person charged with DWI had a high BAC reading. The process of publicizing DWI related news has led political forces in nearly every state to produce laws that punish people for DWI more significantly, particularly where an individual has prior DWI convictions, accidents, or high BAC readings. I practice law as a Missouri DWI lawyer, but the move to increase DWI penalties in similar in many state. Thus, this article will attempt to help explain these penalty schemes through the examples of Missouri DWI laws.
Where a person has previous convictions, a Felony DWI may be charged.
Most DWI charges will yield a misdemeanor allegation. Even still, after an individual in Missouri pleads guilty or is found guilty of their second DWI charge, a third DWI allegation will likely be charged as a felony. States throughout the union have laws similar in that penalties increase with subsequent convictions. In Missouri, the government will often seek substantial jail or prison time on a felony DWI. This is because these offenders have already been given two chances after committing DWI to not be incarcerated, yet they continue with DWI. Therefore, if you or a loved one faces a felony DWI in Missouri, you should retain a well trained DWI lawyer.
Another instance where DWI charges result in felony charges are situations where there is an accident.
In Missouri, if someone is charged with a DWI, but another person is injured in an accident related to the DWI, either a passenger or another driver, the defendant will often be charged with an additional felony Assault in the 2nd Degree charge. This charge carries a range of punishment from 1 day in jail to 7 years in prison. Even for first time offenders, prosecutors and judges are reluctant to allow plea agreements in these cases where the defendant does not complete some kind of incarceration. Again, where a DWI and an accident are involved, it is critical that you find a quality DWI lawyer in your area. As a Missouri DWI lawyer, I do not like to see people in court with attorneys that are not trained to mount a serious defense to felony DWI charges.
To understand more about Missouri DWI or Missouri DWI penalty structures, visit the websites of David Brengle beginning with his primary site of www.brenglelawfirm.com. David Brengle presently works as a Missouri DWI lawyer, and he has spent his entire professional career protecting Constitutional rights and in the defense of people accused with crimes.
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