Consequences Of A DUI Charge

Delaware & Chester County DUI Defense Attorneys

The Consequences of a DUI Charge in Pennsylvania May be Severe

Our state laws allow for three levels of DUI penalty, based on the amount of blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of arrest. The penalty ranges are as follows —

If your BAC is between .08 and .099 percent:

  • First offense is a misdemeanor charge with up to six months probation, a $300 fine and Alcohol Highway Safety School. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.

  • Second offense is a misdemeanor charge with a 12-month license suspension, up to six months jail time, a fine of up to $2,500, one year of interlock ignition on your vehicle and Alcohol Highway Safety School. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.
  • Third and subsequent offenses are a second-degree misdemeanor charge with a 12-month license suspension, up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000 and one year of ignition interlock on your vehicle. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.

If your BAC is between .10 and .159 percent:

  • First offense is a misdemeanor charge with up to six months in prison, a 12-month license suspension, a fine of up to $5,000 and Alcohol Highway Safety School. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.
  • Second offense is a misdemeanor charge with up to six months in prison, a 12-month license suspension, a fine of up to $5,000, Alcohol Highway Safety School and one year of ignition interlock on your vehicle. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.
  • Third and subsequent offenses are a first-degree misdemeanor charge with minimum of one year and up to five years in prison, an 18-month license suspension, a fine of up to $10,000 and one year of ignition interlock on your vehicle. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.

If your BAC is .16 percent or higher (considered to be an excessive blood alcohol level), or if you tested positive for a controlled or illegal substance in your system:

  • First offense is a misdemeanor charge with up to six months in prison, a 12-month license suspension, a fine of up to $5,000 and Alcohol Highway Safety School. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.
  • Second offense is a first-degree misdemeanor charge with up to five years in prison, an 18-month license suspension, a fine of up to $10,000, Alcohol Highway Safety School and one year of ignition interlock on your vehicle. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.
  • Third and subsequent offenses are a first-degree misdemeanor charge with a minimum of one year and up to five years in prison, an 18-month license suspension, a fine of up to $10,000 and one year of ignition interlock on your vehicle. You may be ordered to receive treatment for alcoholism.

In addition, any conviction on your record may affect your ability to get a job, apply for a loan or apply for school. DUI convictions show up on background checks and become a permanent part of your record.

Philadelphia DUI Defense Attorneys

At Cherry DUI Law, our lawyers work diligently to help you avoid as many of these penalties as possible. Our DUI defense is aggressive and thorough. Our goal is to get the best outcome possible for you and get you back to your normal life.

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