DUI Attorneys in Harrisburg
We Get Results
If you have recently been charged for drinking while driving, you are most
likely feeling extremely confused and stressed, whether this is your first
arrest or not. This feeling of anxiety is highly warranted if you do not
have capable DUI lawyers in Cumberland County nor Harrisburg by your side.
In the state of Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials have been increasingly
clamping down on DUI offenders, even for their first time.
In order to set an example for other drivers, convictions for driving under
the influence have become especially harsh, and the resulting consequences
are severe and long-lasting. You could face fines costing you thousands
of dollars, on top of losing your driver’s license, and could even
be forced to serve time in jail.
Contact your reliable team at the Law Offices of Patrick F. Lauer for advice you
can count on in difficult times.
Contact us now at
(717) 775-6110 to benefit from dedicated advocacy from our determined lawyers.
Is a DUI a Felony in Pennsylvania?
A DUI in Pennsylvania is usually a misdemeanor. Under the Pennsylvania
Act 153 of 2018, the law that establishes Pennsylvania’s felony
DUI offense, a DUI may be charged as a felony in some situations. You
may be charged with a felony DUI when you have three prior convictions
for a DUI at any level within the last 10 years. If you have two prior
DUI convictions within the past 10 years and had a minor under the age
of 18 in your car, you can also be charged with a felony DUI. This is
when your BAC is at least twice the legal limit of 0.08%.
Penalties for General Impairment
As of 2004, the state of Pennsylvania created the law of Act 24. This altered
the current laws for driving under the influence to correlate with federal
laws across the country. Simultaneously, the blood alcohol content threshold,
known as BAC, was set to be .08, which allowed Pennsylvania to keep benefitting
from highway funds offered by the federal government. The result of this
change was that drunk-driving offenses received harsher penalties.
If any person was found to have a BAC ranging from .08 to .099%, or even
if their BAC was unable to be determined, they would have to suffer the
following consequences:
- Serving probation for up to 6 months, rendering a fine of $300, and completing
highway safety school, if you have had 0 prior DUI charges.
- Serving in jail for up to 6 months, rendering a fine up to $2500, losing
your license for a year, and completing highway safety school, if you
have had 1 prior DUI charge. You might also need to have an ignition interlock
device installed in your vehicle for a year.
- Serving in jail for up to 2 years, rendering a fine up to $5,000, losing
your license for a year, and completing highway safety school, if you
have had at least 2 prior DUI charges. You will likely also be required
to have an ignition interlock installed for a year, as well as receive
treatment.
How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in PA?
In Pennsylvania, a DUI will stay on your record for life unless it is expunged
or given limited access relief. Because your conviction is a matter of
public record, it will be reflected in your criminal background and credit
records as well as your insurance and driver’s license history.
If you receive a DUI conviction in Pennsylvania, the state will update
your record in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s
(NHTSA) National Driver Register to reflect the details of your offense.
Consequently, any time a potential employer, landlord, car rental agency,
or insurance company requests a background check or credit report, it
will see the details of your conviction.
