Third Offense DUI in West Virginia

There are many penalties that can go along with a third offense DUI in West Virginia.  Knowing these penalties can help you to know what might be coming if you get one.  It might even convince you to avoid getting one.  One thing you should know is that not everyone gets the same penalties for a DUI in West Virginia.  This means you could get a better deal than you thought.  Here is what you need to know about getting a third offense DUI in West Virginia.

Administrative Penalties

When you get your third DUI in West Virginia your license will be taken away. At this point, it will either be suspended or revoked.  Being that this is your third DUI a lifetime license revocation is likely.  You can challenge this action with an administrative hearing if you do so within 30 days of the incident.  This is not all, however.  There will be fines that will amount to between $3,000 and $5,000.  You will also have to pay the associated West Virginia court costs. 

Criminal Penalties

Criminal penalties come with your third offense DUI in West Virginia as well.  This is the penalty that most people want to know about.  This third offense will get you between 1 and 3 years in jail. 

The Lookback Period

The lookback period is how far back in time the courts look for offenses to be counted in conjunction with each other.  The length of the lookback period varies from one state to the next.  In West Virginia, the lookback period is currently 10 years.

Felony Vs Misdemeanor In West Virginia

The main distinction between felonies and misdemeanors in West Virginia is that misdemeanors are less serious than felonies.  Misdemeanors come with less than 1 year in jail while felonies come with more than 1 year in jail.  For a more complete explanation of why your alleged crime is considered to be a felony or a misdemeanor in West Virginia you will want to talk to your lawyer.

Plea Options

You have plea options when you go before a West Virginia judge.  You can plea guilty or not guilty.  Your plea, of course, will depend upon whether or not you did indeed commit the crime for which you are being charged.  If you did commit the crime then you will plead guilty.  If you did not then you will plead not guilty.  Plea bargaining to get reduced penalties may be an option but this will depend on your lawyer and the prosecutor.

Involving A Lawyer

You should not go through this process alone.  Hiring a West Virginia lawyer will ensure that you have someone who can explain your options to you and the repercussions of each course of action.  Your lawyer will help to make sure that you understand what is going on and your part in it all.