Nevada Supreme Court Rejects DUI Appeal
The Nevada Supreme Court just rejected the appeal of an Illinois citizen, who was given the maximum sentence for a Nevada felony DUI back in 2007. The defendant argued that Nevada was wrong to consider his previous Illinois DUI conviction when charging him because of the differences between the state laws. Had it not been for the Illinois case, he would’ve been charged with only a misdemeanor and not Nevada felony DUI.
In rejecting the appeal, the Nevada Supreme Court explained, “The record reveals that despite the disparity in the sentencing schemes, the Illinois statute [the defendant] was convicted under prohibits the same conduct prohibited [in Nevada].” In total, the defendant had nineteen prior felony convictions, including four that were related to driving under the influence.
A third drunk driving conviction within a seven-year period is charged as a Nevada felony DUI, carrying one to six years imprisonment and fines ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Drivers licenses may be suspended for three years, and a breath interlock device may be installed in the defendant’s car.
