Have the police arrested you for drunk or drugged driving in Baldwin, PA? A DUI arrest and conviction can quickly become a stressful, embarrassing period. However, you don’t have to face the criminal justice system alone. Hiring experienced legal counsel can help you advocate for your rights and pursue the best possible outcome to your drunk driving charges. Contact SMT Legal today for an initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable DUI defense attorney serving Baldwin to learn how our firm will fight for your reputation and future.
Although a DUI may not seem like a serious crime, a conviction can have devastating consequences for your rights, freedom, and future. One of the most critical factors in the outcome of your case may include your choice of criminal defense attorneys. Turn to the team at SMT Legal for help with your DUI charges. Our lawyers know how much the results of your DUI case mean to you. We fight hard to ensure the criminal justice system respects your rights. We have decades of combined legal experience advocating for clients’ rights in the Pennsylvania legal system, so we know what it takes to get a favorable resolution in your case—whether that involves a dismissal or acquittal, a fair plea deal, or avoiding the harshest sentences in the event of a conviction.
In Pennsylvania, a driver commits the offense of driving under the influence if they operate or exercise actual control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent their intoxication renders them incapable of driving safely. However, a driver may also face conviction for DUI if they have a blood/breath alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more. Furthermore, Pennsylvania has an implied consent law that requires any driver arrested for DUI to submit to a chemical test of their breath, urine, or blood for alcohol or drugs upon request from a police officer. A driver who refuses a lawful request to submit to chemical testing may face administrative penalties, such as suspension of their driving privileges.
Penalties for a DUI conviction under Pennsylvania law depend on a driver’s level of alcohol intoxication and the number of prior DUI convictions they have. Drivers arrested for driving under the influence of controlled substances or who refuse a chemical test under the implied consent law will face prosecution under the tier for the highest level of blood/breath alcohol content. Sentences for cases where a driver had an undetermined BAC or a BAC of 0.08 to 0.099 percent include:
First offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $300 fine, up to six months of probation, and requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school
Second offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $300 to $2,500 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, five days to six months in jail, and a 12-month driver’s license suspension
Third or subsequent offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $500 to $5,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, ten days to two years in jail or prison, and a 12-month driver’s license suspension
Penalties for drivers with a BAC of 0.10 to 0.159 percent include:
First offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $500 to $5,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, 48 hours to six months in jail, and a 12-month driver’s license suspension
Second offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $750 to $5,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, 30 days to six months in jail, and a 12-month driver’s license suspension
Third or subsequent offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $1,500 to $10,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, 90 days to five years in jail or prison, and an 18-month driver’s license suspension
Penalties for drivers convicted of driving under the influence of a controlled substance or with a BAC of 0.16 percent or more include:
First offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $1,000 to $5,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, 72 hours to six months in jail, and a 12-month driver’s license suspension
Second offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $1,500 to $10,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, 90 days to five years in jail or prison, and an 18-month driver’s license suspension
Third or subsequent offense: One-year ignition interlock requirement, $2,500 to $10,000 fine, requirement to attend alcohol highway safety school, one to five years in prison, and an 18-month driver’s license suspension
DUI offenders also must attend substance abuse treatment when ordered by the court as part of their sentence. Furthermore, drivers who resolve their DUI charges through Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition may still have to serve a driver’s license suspension, depending on their BAC.
A DUI conviction can also have other long-term consequences beyond fines, jail time, and license suspensions. First, drivers may have increased auto insurance costs following a conviction. A conviction will also result in a criminal record that shows up on
Even if you submitted to a breathalyzer test after getting stopped for DUI, you may have defenses you can pursue to avoid or mitigate the consequences of a DUI arrest and conviction in Baldwin. Common defenses used in DUI cases include:
Challenging the legality of the traffic stop, including whether the officer had reasonable suspicion/probable cause that a DUI or another traffic violation occurred
Challenging the reliability of field sobriety or chemical testing by highlighting issues with testing procedures or the calibration of testing equipment
Challenging the sufficiency of evidence proving that the defendant drove or exercised actual physical control over a motor vehicle while under the influence of
In some cases, defendants may seek to exclude evidence or inculpatory statements from the prosecution’s case by arguing that police obtained the evidence or statements through an unlawful search or interrogation. Defense strategies for first-time DUI offenders may also focus on pursuing Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition, which can help resolve DUI charges without the consequences of a conviction and criminal record.
If you’ve been arrested on suspicion of DUI in Baldwin, don’t leave the outcome of your case to chance. Contact SMT Legal today for a free, confidential consultation with our legal team to discuss your legal options for pursuing a favorable resolution to your DUI charges.
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