PA Public Intoxication Charges: What to Expect
Every year, many people come to Western PA, especially Pittsburgh, to enjoy the casinos, tailgate at football games, go see a baseball game, etc. They may even tour the cultural district, party on the South Side, do some shopping in the strip district, or enjoy Downton Pittsburgh in general.
Sometimes, when people enjoy themselves, they can forget to be responsible. Thus, consequences will follow, particularly a public drunkenness citation. However, there are ways to repair the situation when you seek legal counsel from a skilled Pittsburgh criminal lawyer.
The Definition of Public Intoxication/Drunkenness
If a person appears publicly under alcoholic influence to a degree that they might endanger others, property, or themselves, they are guilty of Public Drunkenness. It’s a summary offense punishable by potential jail time and substantial fines.
Charges and Penalties for Public Drunkenness
If you appear drunk in a public place, you face charges for public drunkenness. So, it’s advised not to get intoxicated watching a game and then head outside to serenade your neighbours at the top of your voice. This especially holds true for college students. They often spill outside and go through residential neighborhoods after parties, on or off campus.
Since this is a summary offense, it’s less severe than a felony or misdemeanor. So, it also carries less serious penalties. Usually, a summary offense conviction can be punished by up to 90 days of jail time, damage restitution, and a $300 fine. The statute for public intoxication fines first-time offenders up to $500 and $1000 minimum for second-time offenders.
Therefore, a public drunkenness conviction has harsher penalties than other summary offenses. A Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help you mitigate these penalties.
Consequences of Public Intoxication Conviction
Public drunkenness might be a summary offense with less severe penalties, but it still affects college and job applications. Your employer or reviewer might hesitate to grant your application or offer you employment if you have a conviction for public intoxication on your record.
A public drunkenness conviction is more of a perception crime. Even if it’s graded as a summary offense, the conviction gives the perception that you have poor self-control when it comes to alcohol. And this is a bad sign.
Not all charges of public drunkenness lead to a conviction. You don’t need to plead guilty just because it’s a summary offense. If you plead guilty, it builds your record. You can also face a ban from the location where you got the citation. This is why you need a seasoned Pittsburgh criminal lawyer to fight for you.
In a specific situation, the conviction can be expunged. However, if there’s no way to do so, you have a summary offense on your record. This could have been resolved without a conviction only if you had a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer to fully advise you of your defenses and rights.
Get in touch with Logue Law Group to defend your public intoxication charges. Our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers have handled many cases of public drunkenness. We have the reputation of vigorously defending these charges and getting the best possible outcomes.
Let us fight for you. Contact us at sean@seanloguelaw.com to schedule a consultation where we can review the charges and evidence against you.