DUI Cannot Be Used to Enhance Federal Sentence

Florida DUI lawyer reports that a lengthy federal sentence was overturned. The Act 18 U. S. C. section 924(e)(1), defined ''violent felony'' as, a crime punishable by more than one year's imprisonment that ''is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.'' section 924(e)(2)(B)(ii) (clause (ii)). After petitioner pleaded guilty to felony possession of a firearm, his presentence report revealed he had 12 New Mexico convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol(DUI). He received an harsh enhanced sentence.

The United States Supreme Court Held: New Mexico's felony DUI crime falls outside the scope of the Act's clause (ii) ''violent felony'' definition. Even assuming that DUI involves conduct that ''presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another'' under clause (ii), the crime falls outside the clause's scope because it is simply too unlike clause (ii)'s example crimes to indicate that Congress intended that provision to cover it.

Florida DUI Attorney Lawyer Hillsborough