Seek Skilled, Sensible Legal Help After A Pennsylvania DUI Arrest
Each year in Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of drivers are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, drugs or both. It is a common crime that can occur by accident, yet it carries serious consequences for conviction.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Cranberry Township or surrounding areas of Pennsylvania, contact Sinatra & Istik Law Office, PLLC, for knowledgeable guidance and skilled defense representation. Our two attorneys have more than 35 years of combined legal experience, and they offer judgment-free representation designed to minimize your stress and resolve your charges in the most favorable manner available.
Factors Impacting Your Charges And Potential Consequences
It’s important to understand what you’re up against if you were arrested for drunk driving. In Pennsylvania, DUI charges and related sentences will be influenced by the following factors:
- Whether it is your first offense or a repeat offense
- Your measured blood alcohol content (BAC)
- Whether you refused a chemical test
- Whether you are of legal drinking age or are under 21 years old
- Whether you are a commercial driver and were pulled over while driving your work vehicle
- The presence of any controlled substances in your body (drug DUI)
- Whether you were involved in a car accident with injuries or were caught driving with a minor aged 14 or younger in the vehicle
While the penalties will vary by case, most convictions can result in jail time, expensive fines and suspension of your license (and commercial driver’s license). This is in addition to noncriminal consequences like higher insurance rates and potentially losing your job.
It Is Possible To Successfully Contest DUI Charges
You were pulled over and failed a BAC test. Does that mean your case is open-and-shut? Not necessarily. An experienced attorney can examine all the details of the police report and other documents to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Did the police have a valid reason to pull you over? Were there problems with the way field sobriety tests were conducted? Was the breathalyzer device experiencing calibration issues that affected the accuracy of the results? These are all questions that our lawyers will ask, and their answers could change the trajectory of the case. Prosecutors want you to believe that you must plead guilty, but they are acting in the state’s best interests – not yours. Don’t decide you are out of options before speaking to a knowledgeable defense attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Charges In Pennsylvania
Here are some of the most common questions we receive from clients facing DUI charges in Cranberry Township and throughout Pennsylvania.
What happens if I decline to take a breathalyzer test in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania operates under implied consent laws, meaning that by driving on state roads, you have already agreed to submit to chemical testing when lawfully requested by police. Refusing a breathalyzer test results in automatic penalties including a 12-month license suspension for a first refusal and 18 months for subsequent refusals.
How long will a DUI conviction remain on my driving record?
A DUI conviction stays on your Pennsylvania driving record permanently. Unlike some traffic violations that disappear after a certain period, DUI convictions never expire from your driving history. This permanent record can affect insurance rates, employment opportunities requiring driving and penalties for any future DUI arrests.
Does Pennsylvania treat underage DUI differently than adult DUI?
Yes, Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law imposes stricter standards for drivers under 21 years old. While adult drivers face DUI charges at .08% BAC or higher, underage drivers can be charged with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system, typically .02% BAC or above. First-time underage DUI offenses result in 90-day license suspension, fines up to $500 and mandatory alcohol safety school.
What is Pennsylvania’s ARD program and how does it benefit first-time offenders?
The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program offers eligible first-time DUI offenders an alternative to traditional prosecution. ARD participants complete probation, attend alcohol education classes, perform community service and may face brief license suspension. Successfully completing ARD results in case dismissal and potential record expungement, avoiding DUI conviction and its long-term consequences.
Will Pennsylvania require me to install an ignition interlock device after my DUI?
Ignition interlock requirements depend on your BAC level and prior offenses. First-time offenders with BAC of .10% or higher face mandatory ignition interlock for one year. High BAC cases (.16% or above) require the device even for first offenses. Repeat offenders face ignition interlock requirements regardless of BAC level.
Contact Our Firm Today For More Information
The attorneys at Sinatra & Istik serve clients in Cranberry Township and surrounding areas of Pennsylvania. You can schedule an initial consultation about your legal options by calling 412-557-7647 or submitting an online contact form.