Tampa Felony DUI Lawyer

Aggravated DUI Charges in Florida

Many drunk driving cases are charged as misdemeanors. However, if your Florida DUI involved aggravated circumstances, you may be charged with a felony instead. This can be known as felony DUI or “aggravated DUI.” In all fifty states, an individual is considered legally drunk when his/her blood alcohol concentration reaches .08%.

If convicted of drunk driving, you may be charged a $500 fine for your first offense. Subsequence offense are punishable by $1,000 fines and other penalties. If found behind the wheel of a car with a BAC of .15% or higher, you may be charged with felony DUI.

What is Aggravated/Felony DUI?

Generally speaking, DUI charges are elevated to a felony when the offense involves aggravated circumstances. A variety of situations could be described as aggravated. For instance, you may be subject to a felony charge if you have been convicted of drunk driving before. According to Fla. Stat. § 316.193 (2)(3), any person found guilty of DUI three times in a span of ten years may be charged with felony DUI.

Additionally, if you are accused of driving under the influence or the fourth time, your charges may be enhanced to a felony DUI. Additionally, drunk driving cases that involve serious bodily injury may be charged as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. If convicted of felony DUI with serious bodily harm, you may be sentenced to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide

According to Florida law, DUI with manslaughter is a second-degree felony. If convicted, you could be sentenced to 15 years in prison. Generally speaking, DUI with manslaughter occurs when a drunk driver is directly responsible for the death of another human being. If an individual is killed by a drunk driver, his/her family may pursue a wrongful death claim.

If convicted of manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident, you could be sentenced to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Like DUI with manslaughter, vehicular homicide is a serious crime with serious consequences. If convicted of vehicular homicide, you could be subject to a 15-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine. Vehicular homicide/leaving the scene is considered the most offensive felony DUI crime and is punishable by 30 years of incarceration and a $10,000 fine.

Choose the Proven Defense from Taracks & Associates

Have you been arrested for felony DUI (or aggravated DUI)? If so, you need a Tampa felony DUI attorney with the knowledge, experience and resources to help you stay out of jail. At the firm, we are dedicated to helping people like you. As a former prosecutor, we are familiar with both sides of the courtroom and are ready to use this knowledge to the advantage of our clients.