| Typically, a driving under the influence (DUI) charge is a | | | | certain time period a person must receive before being |
| misdemeanor. In the state of Washington, DUI is a | | | | charged with a felony vary from state to state. In |
| gross misdemeanor offense, and those convicted of | | | | Washington, one must have been convicted of driving |
| this crime will face up to (but no more than) one year | | | | under the influence three times in a 10 year time period |
| in jail, along with a $5000 fine, license suspension, and, | | | | before he or she will face felony charges. A fourth DUI |
| depending on the situation, a few other penalties. | | | | charge within this time span will be a felony, as well as |
| Under certain extreme circumstances, however, DUI | | | | any subsequent charges. |
| will be charged as a felony. Those who commit more | | | | Along the same line as multiple DUI charges is being |
| than three DUI offenses in a ten year period as well | | | | charged with DUI after having been convicted of |
| as those whose drunken actions cause death or | | | | vehicular homicide or vehicular assault. Even if you |
| serious injury to another person will be charged with a | | | | have never before been caught driving under the |
| felony. | | | | influence, you will still face felony charges and severe |
| Felonies | | | | punishment. |
| Felonies are very serious offenses that encompass all | | | | DUI with Death or Injury to another Person |
| crimes that are a step higher in severity than | | | | If you are driving while intoxicated and hit another |
| misdemeanors. For example, robbery, murder, and | | | | person, causing him or her serious injury or even death, |
| rape are all classified as felonies. Felonious actions are | | | | then you will face felony charges. These acts are |
| punishable by at least one year in prison, although, | | | | known as vehicular assault (class B felony) and |
| depending on the crime, offenders may face up to life | | | | vehicular homicide (class A felony), respectively, and |
| in prison. | | | | are grossly illegal. Offenders will face very high fines |
| Multiple DUIs | | | | and many years in jail. |
| The laws regulating how many DUI convictions in a | | | | |