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, 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.