Pennsylvania is not a state that you want to be caught drinking and driving in. Choosing to drive while under the influence is not a choice that you want to make. If you are pulled over and you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08, you will be facing license suspension, jail time, and significant fees in your future. If you are a commercial driver, you will have a lower limit imposed on you of .04 and if you are an underage driver, it will be .02. There are three levels of punishment, depending upon the BAC that you measure. The lowest penalty is given for BACs of .08-.099. The higher penalty is given for BACs of .10 to .159 and the highest penalty is for BACs that are higher.
First DUI Offense
If you are convicted of a DUI at the lower BAC level, you will be facing 6 months of probation and a fine of $300. At the higher level, you will be looking at a license suspension of 12 months, but you may be able to get a limited occupation license after 60 days if you install an ignition interlock device. You will serve two days up to six months in jail and be responsible for fines of $500 to $5000. At the highest penalty level, you will have your license suspended for up to one year, but you may be able to get a restricted license if you have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle. Jail time will range from three days up to six months and you will face fines in the amount of $1000 to $5000. Additionally, you will be required to attend Alcohol Highway Safety School.
Second DUI Offense
A second DUI offense within ten years of the first will result in some fines and penalties. At the lowest level of penalty, you will be looking at a license suspension of 12 months, at least 5 days in jail and up to 6 months in jail, and fines of $300 to $2500. At the higher penalty level, you will also lose your license for 12 months, face a jail sentence of 30 days up to six months, and a fine of $750 to $5000. At the highest penalty level, you will be looking at license suspension of 18 months, jail time of 90 days up to 5 years, a fine of $1500, and Alcohol Highway Safety School. In addition, to get your license reinstated, you will need to have an ignition interlock device installed.
Third DUI Offense
A third DUI conviction with the lookback period of ten years means that you will be facing some punishments. If you are at the lowest BAC level, you will be looking at license suspension for 12 months, jail time of 10 days up to 2 years, and a fine of $500 to $5000. At the higher level, you will be looking at an 18 month license suspension, 90 days to 5 years in jail and fines of $1500 to $10,000. If you are found to have a BAC at the highest level, you will be facing an 18 month license suspension, jail sentence of 1 year up to 5 years, and fines of $2500 minimum. In addition, you will have to have an ignition interlock device installed before your license can be reinstated.
When you decide to get in your car when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you are making the choice to serve a sentence that will restrict your freedom and cause you to have to pay some financial costs. A lawyer can help you to ensure that you get the advice and information that you need.