No matter what kind of drunk driving charges you are facing, it is always wise to fight them. These charges can carry hefty fines and heavy legal and social consequences that may follow you for years. Even in the event of very serious charges, you may have more options that you think to defend yourself, but you must take swift, decisive action as soon as you can.
Drunk driving charges range from relatively minor infraction charges to potentially life-destroying felony charges. If you receive an infraction, you are lucky, but there’s no reason to simply accept it. An infraction does imply a violation, but it usually does not show up on your criminal record.
In most cases, you can resolve an infraction by paying a fine. If you receive misdemeanor charges, which make up the great majority of DUI charges, you may successfully reduce them to infraction charges to keep your record clear.
Misdemeanors are not the strongest charges you can face, but still pose the threat of hefty fines and even jail time. In many instances, a misdemeanor DUI conviction may cost you a professional license, revoke your ability to drive and make it very difficult to get car insurance.
Felony DUI charges are the most serious you might face, and if so, building the strongest defense you can is absolutely essential to protecting your rights and freedoms. Felony charges usually mean lengthy jail time and loss of a number of personal liberties, like voting, owning firearms or adopting a child.
An experienced Mississippi DUI attorney can work to protect your rights and mitigate the impact of a DUI charge on your life and future.
Source: LifeSafer, “The Difference Between a Felony and Misdemeanor DUI,” Charles Hickman, accessed Aug. 18, 2017
