Federal Crimes

At The Zabriskie Law Firm, our  Salt Lake City criminal defense attorneys  are equipped to handle cases in State and Federal Court. Many people are confused as to the difference between these two types of cases, so we’re here to help explain the differences as well as some of the similarities. The Utah state government and the U.S. federal government are two separate entities and therefore have two distinct court systems, although the federal system of government shares power

Editor's note: This post was first published in 2013. It was updated on Dec 10, 2025, for clarity and accuracy. Utah treats impaired driving seriously. Most first-time DUI cases are misdemeanors , but charges can be enhanced—sometimes to a third-degree felony —when certain facts are present (serious injury, young passengers, or repeat convictions). What follows is a plain-English summary of how Utah law handles DUIs and the penalties a court can impose. Summary Utah DUI law p