If you are charged with a felony DUI offense in Boise, Idaho, you will need the help of a qualified Boise felony DUI attorney. This is because without good legal help and a solid defense, you may incur serious penalties for an aggravated DUI offense. These penalties can have lifelong consequences for you.
A DUI offense can be regarded as a misdemeanor or a felony. Aggravated DUI is regarded as a felony offense in Idaho. Here is a look at what distinguishes aggravated DUI from a standard DUI charge and what are Idaho’s penalties for the offense.
What Is Aggravated DUI?
Aggravated DUI is when you are found guilty of driving under the influence as well as other offenses at the same time. For instance, if you are under the influence and cause a crash while driving, this may be regarded as aggravated DUI.
According to the Idaho Code Section 18-8006, you may be found guilty of aggravated DUI if
- You are driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or another intoxicating substance.
And at the same time, you
- Cause great bodily harm to a person other than yourself
- Cause permanent disability to a person other than yourself
- Cause permanent disfigurement to a person other than yourself
In addition to these scenarios which most commonly result in an aggravated DUI conviction, there are other offenses which may lead to the charge. For instance, if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is well above the legal limit, or if you had a minor with you at the time of a DUI crash, these may become the reasons for an aggravated DUI charge.
Penalties for Aggravated DUI
If you are charged with aggravated DUI in Boise, Idaho, you should expect to face a whole range of penalties. These include:
- A mandatory minimum prison sentence of 30 days, with a maximum of up to 15 years, in a state prison.
- In case you are not given a prison sentence, which is very rare in aggravated DUI convictions, you must still undergo probation. This means spending time in a local jail, with a mandatory minimum jail period of 30 days.
- A suspension of your driver’s license for a mandatory minimum of one year with a maximum of five years. The period of license suspension begins once your prison or jail sentence comes to an end.
- A payment made to the victim who may have suffered injuries or property damage as a result of your DUI crash. This is typically known as restitution and is ordered by the court. It eliminates the need for a victim to file a lawsuit for recovering damages.
- Enrollment in a court-mandated alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program. This is typically mandatory and will help you plead for lower penalties after you complete the designated program. Some alcohol rehabilitation programs can be quite expensive.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on all the vehicles you drive. You will be required to pay for the installation, service, and maintenance of the IID device. For a first aggravated DUI charge, the mandatory minimum period of IID use is six months. If you are charged a second time with aggravated DUI, you must keep an IID installed on your vehicle for at least two years.
In addition to these penalties, an aggravated DUI conviction will also result in a felony charge being added to your record. Any potential employers, tenants, and others can look up your public criminal record and see the felony charge there. This can cause you to lose many employment, educational, and social opportunities.
Given the severity of the penalties and the other costs noted above, it is important to properly defend yourself against an aggravated DUI charge. Such a charge may be unfairly brought in many cases, and it is only with the help of a good lawyer that you will be able to counter it.
Hiring an Experienced Boise Felony DUI Attorney
A felony DUI conviction can leave an adverse and lifelong impact on your life. This is why it is important to get the right legal help at the right time if you face this charge. This is particularly so for Idaho where DUI penalties can be exceptionally stiff.
Here at Aaron Hooper, Attorney at Law, we have in-house attorneys who focus on DUI cases. Over the years, we have helped a large number of clients fight DUI charges successfully. If you want to have your DUI case evaluated for free, wait no more. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with our felony DUI lawyers.