Jefferson Hills DUI Lawyer

Top-Rated DUI Defense Attorney in Jefferson Hills, PA

Are you facing DUI charges in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania? If so, you’re probably worried about how they could affect your financial well-being, your ability to go about your life, and potentially even your freedom.

Don’t take the consequences lying down. Instead, contact SMT Legal today for a free initial case evaluation with a DUI defense attorney serving Jefferson Hills to learn how our firm can protect your rights and seek a fair resolution to the case against you.

Why Choose a DUI Attorney from SMT Legal?

If you’ve been accused of intoxicated driving in Jefferson Hills, hiring knowledgeable, dedicated legal advocates can help you seek a favorable outcome to your DUI charges. Choose SMT Legal to advocate for your rights and interests because:

• We have decades of combined legal experience. Our team leverages its collective knowledge and insights to tackle any challenge in our client’s case.
• Our attorneys take the time to guide you through the criminal justice process by explaining your charges and answering your questions so you never feel in the dark.
• Our firm will work as hard as necessary to pursue the best possible resolution to your DUI charges under the facts and circumstances of your case.

Our firm represents adults and underage drivers charged with intoxicated driving under the applicable laws.

Christopher P. Thomas

Partner Criminal Defense Attorney

Your Future. is Our Present

Schedule a Consultation

Call/Text<br /> an Attorney Today 412-448-6887

Understanding the DUI Laws in Jefferson Hills

In Pennsylvania, a person commits the offense of DUI when they operate or exercise control over the movement of a vehicle after consuming a sufficient amount of alcohol or drugs to render themselves unable to operate a motor vehicle safely. However, a person can also commit a DUI if they drive or exercise physical control over the movement of a vehicle while having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more. The law imposes increasing penalties for drivers with higher BAC levels or drivers under the influence of controlled substances.

Motorists in Pennsylvania also must follow the Commonwealth’s implied consent law. This law deems every driver who operates a vehicle to have given consent to breath or blood testing upon request by a law enforcement officer following a valid DUI arrest or an arrest for driving with a suspended/revoked license or without a required ignition interlock device on their vehicle. Motorists who refuse a valid request for blood or breath testing after a DUI arrest may face a 12-month suspension of their driver’s license (18 months when a driver has a prior incident of refusal under the implied consent law).

Consequences of a Sex Conviction

A conviction for drunk or drugged driving in Jefferson Hills will impose various criminal penalties. A sentence for a DUI conviction will depend on the driver’s degree of intoxication at the time of their arrest and their record of prior DUI convictions. Sentences for a conviction for an offense where a driver had an undetermined BAC or a BAC of 0.08 to 0.99 percent include:

• First DUI offense: Up to six months of probation; a $300 fine; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Second DUI offense: Five days to six months in jail; a $300 to $2,500 fine; a 12-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Third or subsequent DUI offense: Five days to two years in jail/prison; a $500 to $5,000 fine; a 12-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court

Penalties for a conviction following an arrest with a BAC of 0.10 to 0.159 percent include:

• First DUI offense: 48 hours to six months in jail; a $500 to $5,000 fine; a 12-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Second DUI offense: 30 days to six months in jail; a $750 to $5,000 fine; a 12-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Third DUI offense: 90 days to five years in jail/prison; a $1,500 to $10,000 fine; an 18-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Fourth or subsequent DUI offense: One to five years in prison; a $1,500 to $10,000 fine; an 18-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court

Sentences for a conviction where a driver had a BAC of 0.16 percent or more or drove under the influence of controlled substances include:

• First offense: 72 hours to six months in jail; a $1,000 to $5,000 fine; a 12-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Second offense: 90 days to five years in jail/prison; a $1,500 to $10,000 fine; an 18-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court
• Third or subsequent offense: One to five years in prison; a $2,500 to $10,000 fine; an 18-month driver’s license suspension; a one-year ignition interlock requirement; requirement to attend alcohol/drug treatment when ordered by the court

Defenses to DUI Charges

When facing DUI charges in Jefferson Hills, the facts of your case may provide you with a defense to your prosecution. Examples of defense strategies used in DUI cases include:

• Contesting field sobriety test results: A driver who submits to field sobriety testing may challenge the reliability of the alleged test results by highlighting factors that may have adversely affected their performance on the tests, such as uneven ground, bad weather, or personal health issues like arthritis.
• Contesting chemical testing results: Defendants may challenge the reliability of breath or blood test results by presenting evidence showing that police officers failed to follow testing protocols or calibrate the testing equipment at the police station.
• Challenging the lawfulness of the traffic stop: A defendant may seek dismissal of their charges on the grounds that the arresting officer unlawfully stopped them without reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe the defendant committed DUI or another offense or traffic violation. This may lead to the court excluding various evidence from the prosecution’s case and dismissing a DUI charge due to a lack of evidence.

How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help You Face Prosecution for a DUI?

A criminal defense lawyer from SMT Legal can help you pursue a favorable resolution to your DUI charges by:

• Conducting an independent investigation of your charges so you do not have to rely on the case file turned over by prosecutors, who may not look for evidence favorable to your case
• Evaluating the facts and evidence to determine available defense strategies
• Vigorously challenging the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case
• Helping you understand your charges and legal options so you can make informed decisions
• Fighting as hard as needed for your interests, including in court, if necessary

Protecting your rights. Restoring your future.

This Changes Everything. We’re Ready Anyway.

Call/Text Now : 412-448-6887

Contact Our Firm Today to Get Help Resolving Your DUI Charges

Arrested for drunk or drugged driving in Jefferson Hills? Let SMT Legal help you navigate the criminal justice system as you face DUI charges.

Contact our firm today for a free, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney serving Jefferson Hills to discuss your options for pursuing a favorable resolution to your DUI case.