Category Archives: DUI
Qualifying for the Berks County DUI Alternative to Jail
A new father celebrating the birth of his son with a few beers gets arrested for a DUI (driving under the influence). Will he have to spend the first days of his new son’s life in a county jail? Berks County has an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program for DUI. This program is an alternative… Read More »
What is the STOP Program?
When a state trooper and a middle school principal are stopped in Berks County for driving under the influence (DUI), you know that drinking and driving is a serious problem. It is estimated that in the United States, 50 percent of first time DUI offenders and 80 percent of second and subsequent DUI offenders will… Read More »
How Does Mouth Alcohol Affect My Pennsylvania DUI Case?
Most Pennsylvania drivers understand that they may be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Pennsylvania if they have been consuming beer, wine or cocktails prior to driving. Fewer people are aware that they may be arrested based on inaccurate breath test results after consuming other substances, such as: Mouthwash Tobacco Cough syrup What… Read More »
What Happens During a Field Sobriety Test?
When you are stopped by the police for suspected driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the officer typically administers a number of field sobriety tests to determine whether you are drunk. These tests are used to determine probable cause to arrest and request chemical testing — breath, blood or urine testing. Although you… Read More »
What You Should Know about the Pennsylvania Accelerated Rehabilitative Program (ARD)
Pennsylvania offers a unique Accelerated Rehabilitative Program (ARD) for first-time DUI offenders. The goal of the program is to avoid drawn-out court proceedings — and prevent future offenses — by giving first-time offenders the opportunity to expunge their criminal records through meeting certain court-ordered conditions. These include drug and alcohol counseling, restitution, and community service…. Read More »
Will a DUI Conviction in Pennsylvania Affect My Insurance?
You face many serious penalties when convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in Pennsylvania — including fines, license suspension, alcohol safety school requirements, installation of an ignition interlock device, and jail time. Not surprising, right? But many people are surprised by the effect a DUI conviction can have on the cost of their car… Read More »
Field Sobriety and Breath Tests—What You Need to Know
The enforcement of laws pertaining to driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of drugs (DUI and DUID, respectively) are based on a scientific urine, breath, or blood test. Field sobriety tests — administered on-site, where the officer has pulled over the motorist — include both physical or cognitive tests, as… Read More »
Repeat Offenders and Drunk Driving Laws
Public acceptance of drunk driving has diminished considerably over the past 20 years, both in Pennsylvania and nationally. One result of this is that repeat offenses, within a period of ten years, bring harsher penalties with each incident. A single infraction, where a motorist is found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI), can yield… Read More »
What Happens if Drunk Driving Caused an Accident?
The way Pennsylvania law treats driving under the influence (DUI) is different when an accident occurred because of the infraction. By different, we mean harsher. For example, on a first offense where the blood alcohol level (BAC) is between .08 and .099 percent, the driver who was apprehended due to simple driving behaviors (such as… Read More »
What You Need to Know about DUI
When an individual applies for a driver’s license in Pennsylvania, he or she officially consents to alcohol and chemical testing should a law enforcement official ask them to do so. It is part of the legal privilege of driving. If such a test finds that a motorist is over the legal limit of alcohol consumption,… Read More »
