DUI Charges Expunged for First-Time Offender, Courtesy: The ARD Program
If you’ve ever dealt with a DUI charge, you must know the hassle that it brings along. You have to pay hefty fines, and of course, you are stripped of your driving privileges, which eventually affects your daily life.
But what if you are a first-time offender? Do the charges remain the same, or do they become lenient? At the Logue Law Group, we recently handled a case that consisted of a first-time DUI offender, and we successfully got our client into an ARD program and eventually an expungement! That’s probably one of the best reasons why our Pittsburgh DUI attorneys are highly recommended by a lot of Pennsylvanian residents!
Consequences for First-Time DUI Offenders
To handle a situation, the first thing you need is an understanding of what the situation is and what consequences it can bring.
According to the new DUI laws in Pennsylvania, the severity of charges entirely depends on the BAC of the accused. Therefore-
- If your BAC is between 0.08%- 0.099%, you may receive a misdemeanor charge under general impairment. Added to that, you have to pay a fine that ranges anywhere from $300 to $1,000, and serve a 6-month probation, along with attending an alcohol highway safety school or other similar programs.
- If your BAC is between 0.10%- 0.159%, you may face imprisonment from 48 hours to 6 months. Apart from that, your license remains suspended for a year, and you have to pay $500 fine.
Also, if you are a first-time offender with the lowest BAC levels, your license doesn’t get suspended. Instead, you may have to install an ignition interlocking device for a year.
How Can You Protect Your Rights?
We understand that a DUI charge is scary. But if you don’t stand up to protect your rights, the situation might get worse.
So, here are some of the many ways you can protect yourself in that situation before we take up your case-
Don’t leave the scene and create a ruckus
One of the dumbest things you can do is flee with your vehicle when the cops are trying to pull you over! That can create an even bigger ruckus and can complicate your situation even further. Instead, stay calm, pull over, and speak politely with the cops.
Exercise your right to remain silent
The cops will ask for your ID and license. Make sure to show them your credentials and politely decline to answer their questions. Remember, the moment you tell them how much you drank, it becomes evidence that can be used against you in court!
Call up a Pittsburgh DUI attorney immediately
This is one of the most crucial steps that you need to take. Don’t waste time and call up a Pittsburgh DUI attorney ASAP. They are knowledgeable professionals and can guide you with the best advice to help you come out of the situation.
How Did We Help?
The moment we received the call from our client, our Pittsburgh DUI attorneys started with their research work. We found out that our client was a first-time offender and was caught with BAC levels that fall under general impairment. And since our client did not cause any damage to other vehicles or public property, we negotiated the deal and put her in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program (ARD). Once our client completed the entire program, his DUI charges were expunged.
And that’s what separates us at the Logue Law Group from other law firms in Pennsylvania. Our expert Pittsburgh DUI attorneys believe everyone deserves a second chance. Therefore, we try to rehabilitate our clients so that they can live a better life in the future.
Need our assistance? Contact us at 844.PITT.DUI and book a free consultation today!