Certain traffic offenses committed alongside a DWI can significantly escalate the severity of the case. These aggravating factors increase the legal consequences and reflect poorly on the driver’s record.
Aggravating factors often lead to felony charges, longer license suspensions and higher insurance rates. Being aware of these offenses is critical for both prevention and awareness.
1. Excessive speeding
Driving at excessive speeds while intoxicated can dramatically increase the severity of a DWI case. If a driver is caught traveling over the speed limit in a DWI scenario, prosecutors may argue that the driver blatantly disregarded public safety.
This behavior can result in enhanced penalties, including longer jail sentences or the classification of the DWI as an aggravated offense. Courts may also view excessive speeding as a sign that the driver was completely incapable of safely operating a vehicle.
2. Driving with a minor in the vehicle
One of the most serious aggravating circumstances in a DWI case in Missouri is having a child passenger under the age of 17 in the car. It reflects a risk to public safety and a direct endangerment of a vulnerable person, which courts do not take lightly.
3. Causing an accident or bodily harm
If a DWI leads to a car accident—especially one that causes injury or death—the situation becomes drastically more severe. These offenses carry significant prison sentences, loss of driving privileges for years and permanent marks on a criminal record. Even minor accidents that result in property damage can be used to argue for enhanced sentencing. Courts often consider the outcome of the DWI as much as the act itself, and injuries amplify the recklessness of the decision to drive intoxicated.
Understanding these potential escalations can serve as a powerful reminder to drivers of the essence of legal support following a DWI charge. The right legal support can help drivers understand their situation and minimize potential penalties.