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Drunk Driving/D.U.I. Defense
As our office is in Huntingdon Valley, most of the Drunk Driving/DUI matters we handle result from charges filed by the police departments in Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland, Abington, Horsham, Springfield, Upper Dublin, Rockledge, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, and Ambler.
The new Pennsylvania Drunk Driving law carries more
serious penalties than the previous DUI law. Depending
on your blood alcohol content and previous offenses,
if any, penalties vary from probation to jail time,
and from no driver's license suspension to very
lengthy license suspensions. The penalties for Drunk
Driving/DUI/Driving After Imbibing are set forth
in the chart below:
Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Penalty Chart
Initial
Offense
| Blood Alcohol Content |
.08 - .099 |
.10 - .159 |
.16 and above |
| Minimum Sentence |
------ |
2 days |
3 days |
| Maximum Sentence |
------ |
6 months |
6 months |
| License Suspension |
------ |
12 months |
12 months |
Second Offense
| Blood Alcohol Content |
.08 - .099 |
.10 - .159 |
.16 and above |
| Minimum Sentence |
5 days |
30 days |
90 days |
| Maximum Sentence |
6 months |
6 months |
5 years |
| License Suspension |
12 months |
12 months |
12 months |
Third Offense
| Blood Alcohol Content |
.08 - .099 |
.10 - .159 |
.16 and above |
| Minimum Sentence |
10 days |
90 days |
1 year |
| Maximum Sentence |
2 years |
5 years |
5 years |
| License Suspension |
12 months |
18 months |
18 months |
Fourth and Subsequent Offenses
| Blood Alcohol Content |
.08 - .099 |
.10 - .159 |
.16 and above |
| Minimum Sentence |
10 days |
1 year |
1 year |
| Maximum Sentence |
2 years |
5 years |
5 years |
| License Suspension |
12 months |
18 months |
18 months |
It is critically important
to contact a defense attorney knowledgeable of the
new DUI law in order to familiarize yourself with
the nature of the charge, the seriousness of the
charge and what options are available to you. Furthermore,
it is important to understand how the legal penalties
of jail, license suspensions, and convictions can
impact on your employment, education, and career.
For instance, a criminal conviction goes on your "record" and
in most instances will remain there forever.
One major opportunity to prevent having a "criminal record" is to seek
admission to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (A.R.D.) Program.
The A.R.D. Program not only allows for the expungement of one's criminal record,
but also allows you to avoid jail with lesser license suspension penalties.
As admission to the A.R.D. Program is a "privilege" and not a "right",
applying for the Program in a timely and appropriate manner is of critical
importance.
Admission to the A.R.D. Program is for first-time offenders of non-violent
crimes that meet certain strict criteria. We at Howland Hess can quickly
review your case and advise you on your eligibility for the A.R.D. Program
and the options you have if you are not eligible for the Program.
The new DUI law, as identified in the chart above, requires "mandatory" penalties
of jail time and lengthy license suspensions if you are not eligible
for A.R.D., or if you are a multiple DUI offender.
Remember, if you are charged with a Drunk Driving/DUI, please contact us
online or call us at 215-947-6240 for a free initial consultation.
Attorneys practicing in D.U.I. include the following:
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