A Detailed Outlook on DUI Charges in Philadelphia
Under Title 75, Section 3802 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, you can be charged with a DUI citation if your Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C) is higher than 0.08%.
However, what you might not know is that, even if your BAC levels are below 0.08%, you can still be arrested if the police can prove your impairment.
In Pennsylvania, there exists a three-tier DUI system, which is meant to categorize offenses depending on the BAC level of the driver-
- Tier I: General Impairment. BAC Level: 0.08%- 0.099%
- Tier II: High BAC 0.10%- 0.159%
- Tier III: Highest BAC 0.16% and above
Now, each of these tiers has penalties that include probation, fines, imprisonment, license suspension, installation of an ignition interlocking device, etc. But if you’re a repeat offender or have endangered the welfare of a child, it can increase the penalties significantly.
And honestly, DUI charges can be life-altering! So, if you’ve been cited with a DUI charge, make sure to hire a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer from our Logue Law Group to defend your rights and get a second chance at life!
Penalty Categorization for DUI Cases in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, the penalties for a DUI case largely depend on your BAC level and whether you’re a first-time offender or a repeat offender.
First-Time DUI
- BAC Level 0.08%- 0.099%: Fines up to $300, Probation for 6 months, attendance at an alcohol safety school.
- BAC Level 0.10%- 0.159%: Fines ranging from $500- $5,000, 48 hours- 6 months of incarceration, 1 year license suspension.
- BAC Level 0.16%+: Fines ranging from $1,000- $5,000, 72 hours- 6 months of incarceration, 1 year license suspension.
Second DUI
- BAC Level 0.08%- 0.099%: Fines ranging from $300- $2,500, 5 days- 6 months of incarceration, 1 year license suspension, installation of ignition interlocking device.
- BAC Level 0.10%- 0.159%: Fines ranging from $750- $5,000, 1 month- 6 months of incarceration, 1 year license suspension.
- BAC Level 0.16%+: Fines ranging from $1,500- $10,000, 3 months- 5 years of incarceration, 18 months license suspension.
Third DUI
- BAC Level 0.08%- 0.099%: Fines ranging from $500- $5,000, 10 days- 2 years of incarceration, 1 year license suspension.
- BAC Level 0.10%- 0.159%: Fines ranging from $1,500- $10,000, 3 months- 5 years of incarceration, 18 months license suspension.
- BAC Level 0.16%+: Fines ranging from $2,500- $10,000, 1year- 5 years of incarceration, 18 months license suspension.
Other than these, there are additional consequences that DUI offenders face, like-
- Payment of court fees and fines.
- Expenses for installing, maintaining, and removing the ignition interlocking device.
- Extra expenses for availing public transportation for commuting.
- Increased vehicle insurance premiums.
- Negative impact on child custody.
- Issues with immigration and citizenship status.
The DUI Look-Back Period
Pennsylvania has a 10-year look-back period for DUI cases. This means if you have been charged with a DUI citation on today’s date, and if there were any DUI charges levied against you in the past decade, it could influence your current sentence!
And that’s exactly why you need the assistance of a skilled Pittsburgh DUI attorney, who can not just protect your rights, but also defend you in court, and help reduce or dismiss the charges to make sure that you won’t carry the consequences for a lifetime!
Why Choose Us?
You might be thinking, what’s so special about the Logue Law Group? Well, we are one of the most popular law firms, housing the most experienced and knowledgeable Pittsburgh DUI attorneys.
Not just that, but our expert legal professionals have profound knowledge of DUI and traffic laws, and are known to come up with unique strategies to extract the most favorable outcome for our clientele!
So, if you, or a loved one, have been accused of a DUI charge, don’t sit back and let your fate decide your future! Instead, please call us at 412-387-6901 or email sean@seanloguelaw.com to schedule an appointment.