PENNSYLVANIA DUI LAWS
If you or a family member has been arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania you are most likely wondering what types of charges and penalties you face. PA has very stringent and fierce laws against drinking and driving.
If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI, the very first thing you should do is contact an experienced Pittsburgh DUI lawyer. A DUI charge can be a confusing process, but it is important to understand your charges and the consequences you face.
Attorney David J. Shrager is personally available via his cell phone, 24/7 – call or text 412-969-2540.
A 2016 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court may impact your DUI case – Read more about the recent Birchfield Ruling or call Attorney Shrager today for a Free Consultation.
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BEING ARRESTED FOR A DUI DOES NOT
MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY FOR A
FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
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FINES AND PENALTIES FOR A DUI IN PENNSYLVANIA
If you are under 21 and have been arrested for a DUI, read more about the consequences of an Underage DUI Arrest in Pennsylvania.
If you are over 21 many factors come into play. One of the most important being your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level, which will determine the severity of the penalties and fines you face.
Additionally, refusal of a breath of blood test during a DUI arrest can lead to multiple license suspensions and increased criminal penalties.
Pennsylvania has three tiers of BAC level which include:
- General impairment: BAC of at least .08% but less than .10%, no accidents or injuries, driver is over the age of 21.
- High Rate of Alcohol: BAC of at least 0.10% but less than 0.16%; BAC of at least .08% but less than .10% with an accident or injury; school bus driver with BAC between 0.02% and .159% or commercial driver with BAC between .04 and 0.159%
- Highest Rate of Alcohol: Refusal to take a chemical test, BAC of .16% or higher, or drug use.
Depending on whether this is your first DUI offense, second DUI or whether you have had multiple offenses, your charges and penalties will vary.
First Time DUI Penalties
As a first-time offender you face a minimum of a $300 fine and six months of probation, a misdemeanor on your record, as well as mandatory attendance of alcohol highway safety school and possible alcohol treatment and/or community service hours.
At a maximum you face a six-month prison sentence, a $1,000 to $5,000 fine, a one-year license suspension, and other requirements such as alcohol rehabilitation, attendance of alcohol highway safety school, and community service hours.
If this is your first DUI, please read our question and answer guide for first time DUI offenses in Pennsylvania.
A second DUI offense or multiple DUI charges in PA have much tougher penalties and fines, and might be charged as a felony.
Call Attorney David J. Shrager for a free legal consultation — he will help you understand the process and guide you in the right direction.
OTHER PENALTIES FOR A DUI CONVICTION IN PA
Having a DUI is a permanent mark on your record that anyone who runs a background check on you will see, including landlords, future employers, banks (if you ever plan on taking out a loan), college admission offices, and insurance companies. This could make your future very difficult.
Your insurance rates will rise if you have a DUI on your record.
Protect your future by calling an experience DUI Attorney who will fight hard for your rights. Many DUI cases can be won, and even if it is not dismissed completely, could result in the reduction of fines and penalties.
Call Attorney David J. Shrager today and let him do the worrying for you. He is an aggressive and experienced DUI Lawyer in Pittsburgh who cares about your situation and will fight hard to win your case.
A DUI ARREST IN PA – FIRST STEPS
- NUMBER ONE: Call an experienced Pittsburgh DUI Attorney for a free consultation.
- Write down everything you remember from your arrest. Your memory may fade over time and any small detail could make a large difference in winning your case.
- Gather witnesses who may help your case, including any friends or family members who were with you before, during, or after your arrest.
The most important thing to not do is simply nothing and to hope this all goes away. It won’t. The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the worse your situation could get.
Stop panicking and let us do the worrying for you — we are here to help. We will fight aggressively for your rights and will work hard to protect your future.
What Shrager Defense Attorneys Can Do For You
First of all, we empathize with your situation and talk to you plainly about the consequences you may face, not in complicated “legal-eze”. Our staff will never talk down to you or make you feel worse about your situation. We are here to help you understand the charges brought against you and the legal proceedings you face, so that we can better defend your rights.
Secondly, we closely examine the criminal complaint brought against you and confusing paperwork you will receive. We examine the police reports and videotape to see if the police treated you fairly and all evidence was collected legally. If evidence is suspected of having been obtained illegally, we will motion for the evidence to be suppressed. If a judge grants suppression, your case may be dismissed.
Thirdly, we prepare you for the preliminary hearing, which will determine whether or not your case will be moved forward to prosecution for a DUI. During your hearing, the officer who made your arrest will be present. This can be the toughest part of the entire process and having an experienced lawyer who knows the ins-and-outs of these proceedings is essential to helping your case.
Having a good DUI lawyer present during your hearing can make all the difference in whether or not your charges will be reduced or even dropped completely.
We will weigh all of your options, including a trial, negotiated pleas, and Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), to get your charges and fines reduced or dropped.
Shrager Defense Attorneys are experienced DUI lawyers in Pittsburgh, PA who, for years, have been fighting and winning DUI cases. Don’t delay — let us defend your rights and protect your future.
Have questions about a DUI in Pennsylvania? Here are some resources:
- Allegheny County ARD Program
- First Time DUI in PA
- Second DUI in PA
- DUI Drug Charges
- DUI Defense – Ways to Beat a DUI in PA
- DUI with a CDL
- DUI – Prescription Meds
- DUI Accident with Injuries
- Multiple DUIs in PA
- PA DUI Court Process
- Underage Drinking and DUI Charges
- Driving While Under DUI License Suspension
- Homicide by Vehicle While DUI
- Record Expungement
- Choosing a DUI Lawyer
- Birchfield Ruling on DUI – Recent Changes to DUI Convictions and Penalties
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FREE Legal Consultation
Call 412-969-2540 right now for a FREE initial legal consultation. Speak directly with David J. Shrager 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by David J. Shrager and his legal team so they can fight for your rights.
- Learn more about our Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyers
- Read client testimonials and success stories
- First-time DUI? Learn what is at stake and how to proceed
- Contact Shrager Defense Attorneys Today