ARD: The Best Bet for First-Time DUI Offenders in Delco
What are the consequences if you face DUI charges in Delaware County?
Potential imprisonment, stiff fines, license suspension, and increased vehicle insurance premiums!
Sounds a lot, right? That’s exactly why hiring an expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyer from our Logue Law Group becomes necessary. We don’t just help reduce the charges, but also help to protect your rights and your future.
However, a DUI charge doesn’t mean that you’ve been convicted! Especially if you’re a first-time offender, you have certain alternatives that can help you avoid jail time. The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program happens to be that alternative option, which might save you from those life-altering consequences.
Penalties for First-Time DUI Offenders
In Pennsylvania, the penalties for your DUI offense depend on your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels-
- BAC: 0.08- 0.099: In this case, you may face up to 6 months of probation, a $300 fine, and have to mandatorily attend an Alcohol Highway Safety School.
- BAC: 0.10- 0.159: Such BAC levels can result in imprisonment from 48 hours to 6 months, with fines ranging from $500- $5,000, and license suspension for 1 year.
- BAC: 0.16+/ Drug-related DUI: In such cases, you may face incarceration from 72 hours to 6 months, with fines ranging from $1,000- $5,000, and license suspension for 1 year.
Other than these, a DUI conviction can increase your vehicle’s insurance rates, and also etch a permanent criminal record against your name. But, for first-time offenders, the ARD program serves as a boon!
What are the Benefits of the ARD Program?
Here are some of the significant benefits that a first-time DUI offender might enjoy if they get eligible for ARD-
- Avoid imprisonment: Participants of this program get to avoid jail time entirely.
- Reduction in license suspension: If your BAC levels were low, you won’t be facing a license suspension. And for those with higher BAC levels, their license suspension might range from 30 to 60 days instead of a year.
- Eligibility for expungement: If you successfully complete the program, your case becomes eligible for expungement. This means your criminal records will be completely sealed and won’t appear in any background checks.
- Avoid conviction: Most importantly, an ARD helps you avoid getting a DUI conviction.
That being said, now let’s find out who all pass the eligibility checks for the ARD program-
- A first-time offender with no prior DUI record.
- If there were no serious injuries or fatalities caused.
- If there wasn’t any minor individual (under 14 years) present in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.
- If you agree to fulfill all the requirements of the program.
How Can a Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer Help?
Getting admitted into the ARD program is no child’s play! You have to align with the strict deadlines and requirements, and even a small error can rupture your eligibility. That’s why it is preferable to have a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer by your side. They can-
- Help you determine whether you are eligible for the program or not.
- Help prepare your ARD application, and submit it along with the necessary paperwork.
- Negotiate with the prosecutors to make sure you’re eligible for the program.
- Help you complete the program’s requirements.
- Help expunge your DUI record after you’ve completed the program.
At Logue Law Group, we believe in the saying, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” So, if you are facing a DUI charge for the first time, don’t think that it’s the end of the world! Instead, call us at 412-387-6901 and schedule a consultation with our expert lawyers today!