Category Archives: DUI
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 […]
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, […]
Traffic Stops—What Not To Do
Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol is life-threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates impaired drivers hit the road 112 million times across the country in 2010, with one in three fatalities influenced by alcohol. If reading this, you might avoid some mistakes if pulled over, or caught up at a […]
Walk the Line
Field sobriety tests in Pennsylvania We have all seen comic film versions of a drunk driver unable to touch his nose, or stagger happily down the road under the watchful gaze of law enforcement. But it is not funny. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) were developed by the Southern California Research Institute for the National […]
Can Your License Be Suspended for DUI?
One of the most severe penalties associated with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction is the suspension of your license. Such suspensions occur under a number of different circumstances. First, anyone refusing chemical testing — Breathalyzer®, blood or urine testing — that tests for blood alcohol content receives a 12-month suspension of their driving […]
How ARD Works
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) is a program under Pennsylvania law that provides an alternative for first-time DUI offenders. It is especially valuable for those accused of driving with a high (0.1 percent or above) or highest (0.18 percent or above) BAC because it can allow them to avoid jail time that would otherwise be required […]
DUI Checkpoints in Pennsylvania
In the past, there was a great deal of controversy regarding the constitutionality of DUI checkpoints. Opponents argued that they are an unreasonable search that can occur in the absence of reasonable suspicion and that police utilize them arbitrarily. Proponents argue they are valuable tools in fighting drunk driving that allow police to target specific […]
CDL Violations and Disqualification
If you are a professional driver, your commercial drivers license (CDL) is very important to you. It is more than just a license; it is your livelihood and your ability to provide for yourself and your family. For you, losing your license is often equivalent to losing your job. Commercial drivers face a number of […]
What to Expect During a DUI Arrest
The last several years have seen a national crackdown on drunk driving. And Pennsylvania is no exception. State police and local police departments have stepped up efforts to catch drunk drivers, including strategic use of DUI checkpoints. Officers at DUI checkpoints briefly interview drivers passing through and detain those who appear intoxicated. Whether police detain […]
