When it comes to DWI’s, most people think it’s pretty straight forward. Odds are, you faced some form of DWI testing that resulted in a BAC which was over the legal limit. So now you should go to court, pay the fines and fees, take the necessary classes and it’s over, right? Well, not necessarily. DWI cases can actually be rather complex. In fact, there are different DWI types which can result in different protocol and punishments. So here’s a list of DWI types your case may fall under. That way, you’re prepared for what might occur.
DWI Types: Understanding the Court’s Different Options
Aggravated DWI
One form of DWI cases, is an aggravated DWI. With an aggravated DWI, you’re violating the law in more than one way. Whichever other ways you were breaking the law, those factors become ‘aggravating factors’ in your case.
For example, an aggravating factor may be excessive speed in your DWI case. In the event that you were traveling well over the speed limit, an officer may charge you with excessive speed in addition to your DWI. Furthermore, an aggravated DWI may increase your penalties to a felony.
Felony DWI
In the case of standard DWI’s, you receive a misdemeanor charge. But in some cases, certain factors can raise your DWI to a felony charge. For instance, if someone died as a result of your DWI or if you have prior DWI offenses. As you might assume, a felony charge comes with much harsher penalties.
Commercial DWI
In the event that you are driving for your job, you may face a commercial DWI. For employees who drive buses, trucks, or large vans, most require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CDL drivers hold to different standard for drinking and driving. Since they are driving a large commercial vehicle, the state made legal BAC limit .04% for commercial drivers. For a commercial DWI, you may face a longer license suspension and harsher penalties than a standard DWI.
In general, these DWI types require harsher penalties than standard DWI’s. Since there are normally a number of factors surrounding these cases, there can also be additional fines. For these reasons, you may want to speak with an attorney to discuss the facts and see what they can do to help your case.