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.
- A per se DUI means that your blood alcohol content, or BAC, was measured at .08 percent or greater. No other evidence is required.
- 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.
