Is A Dwi A Felony?

By Author: alberta reid
Total Articles: 97
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Are you wondering about DWI laws and whether a DWI is a felony? You should know as much as you can about these laws and how they can effect you. Most of the states combine DWI with DUI laws. DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated and DUI is Driving Under the Influence. The latter was adopted to incorporate everyone who might be driving under the influence not only of alcohol but also of drugs. Those who take drugs and drive or drink and drive should know that this is a felony if it has been determined that you can not drive your vehicle. This is determined by taking a breathalyzer test that measures the amount of alcohol that is in your system if you are pulled over. Refusing to take this test will cause you to automatically lose your license and you will most likely be charged with reckless driving. This is also a felony.

Is a DWI a felony? Yes. Driving while intoxicated, if over the legal limit (a limit that is set by the states) is a felony. Even if you have not hit anyone in your outing, you can still get pulled over for just about anything and asked to submit to a breath test. With this test you breathe ...
... into a tube and it measures if you have alcohol in your system as well as how much. This is the standard test that the police will administer to those who they suspect of driving drunk. DWI laws may vary from state to state, but this is considered a felony when legally drunk in most states. The amount of alcohol that a person can consume and still drive may vary but there is a distinctive level that once attained is considered a DUI or DWI. These terms are pretty interchangeable, although there are some states where they are two separate, although equal offenses (driving while intoxicated indicates being under the influence of alcohol while driving under the influence encompasses other drugs as well).

You need to know the DWI laws in the state in which you live if you ever plan to drink and drive. Most people today know that it is a crime to drink and drive but end up getting caught anyway. They may go to the bar, have one more than they ought and think that they can make it a few blocks home, ending up getting pulled over by a cop in the parking lot. This happens all of the time to people. When this occurs, the person will be arrested and then issued with a citation to appear in court upon posting bail. Yes, you will have to post bail if you are caught with a DUI. You will also be processed, which means getting a mug shot taken and your fingerprints taken in the police station. In some cases, you may have to wait overnight to post bail. Although it is rare for a first time offender to receive jail time, this can also occur, depending upon the circumstances. Anyone who gets a DWI or DUI needs to get an attorney who understands the DUI laws and can help them avoid a lot of fees and court costs as well as potentially some time in prison.

Is a DWI a felony? Yes it is. To learn more about DWI laws, go to DWI DUI.