Have You Been Charged with a DUI?

Have You Been Charged with Another Type of Crime?

DUI Penalties Are Severe, Which Is Why You Need An Experienced Lawyer

In Pennsylvania, it is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. The DUI (DWI) defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer, Jr. LLC, work hard to avoid a conviction and its consequences that could alter your life forever.

Call to discuss your case with a defense attorney from our Camp Hill office.

What Can Cause A DUI Conviction?

There are two ways to be found guilty of a DUI offense.

  1. A per se DUI means that your blood alcohol content, or BAC, was measured at .08 percent or greater. No other evidence is required.
  2. You can be convicted if you are judged incapable of driving safely based on an officer’s observations and other evidence. This charge does not require a specific BAC.

Penalties for a per se DUI depend on prior convictions and there are three tiers under which you are charged:

  • General Impairment (.08 to .099)
  • High BAC (.10 to .159)
  • Highest BAC (of .16 or greater)

General Impairment Penalties (Undetermined BAC, Or BAC Of .08 to .099)

No prior DUI offenses

  • Ungraded misdemeanor
  • Up to six months probation
  • $300 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered

One prior DUI

  • Ungraded misdemeanor
  • 12-month license suspension
  • Five days to six months jail time
  • $300 to $2,500 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Two-plus prior DUIs

  • Second-degree misdemeanor
  • 12-month license suspension
  • 10 days in jail to two years in prison
  • $500 to $5,000 fine
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

High BAC Penalties (.10 To .159 BAC)

No prior DUI

  • Ungraded misdemeanor
  • 12-month license suspension
  • 48 hours to six months in prison
  • $500 to $5,000 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered

One prior DUI

  • Ungraded misdemeanor
  • 12-month suspension
  • 30 days to six months in prison
  • $750 to $5,000 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Two-plus prior DUIs

  • First-degree misdemeanor
  • 18-month license suspension
  • 90 days to five years in prison
  • $1,500 to $10,000 fine
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Three-plus prior DUIs

  • First-degree misdemeanor
  • 18-month license suspension
  • One to five years in prison
  • $2,500 to $10,000
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Highest BAC Penalties (.16 And Higher, Or Controlled Substance)

No prior DUI

  • Ungraded misdemeanor
  • 12-month license suspension
  • 72 hours to six months in prison
  • $1,000 to $5,000 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered

One prior DUI

  • First-degree misdemeanor
  • 18-month license suspension
  • 90 days to five years in prison
  • $1,500 to $10,000 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Two-plus prior DUIs

  • First-degree misdemeanor
  • 18-month license suspension
  • One to five years in prison
  • $2,500 to $10,000
  • Treatment when ordered
  • One-year ignition interlock

Call Us. You Can Get Sophisticated Representation For Serious Charges.

A board-certified criminal trial lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Patrick F. Lauer Jr. and his associate, Heather Orisko, have more than 33 years of experience in DUI defense — literally thousands of drunk driving cases.

They aim to get charges dismissed by challenging the evidence, getting them reduced through negotiations with the prosecutor, or to get first-time offenders into an ARD program to avoid jail, license suspension and other DUI penalties.

To schedule your free initial consultation with a lawyer from our firm, contact our Camp Hill office today. Call or send us an email to get started.