Since 2003, when Pennsylvania enacted Act 24, there has been a multi-tiered system in place for determining whether a driver is DUI or DWI. Act 24 lowered the legal blood alcohol content limit to 0.08%. In addition, court mandated alcohol treatment programs were added to the penalty programs for offenders.

Blood Alcohol Guidelines In Pennsylvania

• General impairment: 0.08% to 0.099%
• High BAC: 0.10% to 0.159%
• Highest BAC: 0.16% and up

DUI and DWI penalties in Pennsylvania vary based on the number of offenses and the level of impairment that is documented in each incident. As the number of incidents increase and/or as the level of impairment increases, the severity of the penalties imposed is intended to increase as well.

The “look back period” in Pennsylvania is for a term of ten years, this means that multiple DUI offenses will be considered in succession within a ten year period beginning from the date of the first offense.

Repeat Offenders Do Have Options

Despite the state’s stringent DUI laws, this does not necessarily mean you will serve jail time or lose your job, or even your driver’s license. In fact, in Pennsylvania, you must first be convicted of a DUI offense before your license may be revoked. A DUI attorney in Pennsylvania can be crucial to managing your defense so that your case has the potential to be resolved before it escalates into a trial or conviction.

While the recently enacted laws were written with the intent to send repeat DUI offenders to jail, depending on your case’s specific circumstances, it is not a given that you will be ordered to serve jail time.

Bad Stops For DUI and DWI

A DUI criminal defense attorney can challenge the legality of the traffic stop that resulted in your DUI. If the stop is ruled as improper or illegal then everything that occurred subsequently will be inadmissible as evidence. So, if your DUI or DWI stop is ruled to be illegal or improper then even if you failed a breathalyzer or sobriety test, that information may not be admissible in court.

All of the DUI defense attorneys at DRK Lawyers are former assistant district attorneys. We understand criminal cases and defense from both sides of the courtroom. We use our trial experience and knowledge of the government’s tactics to help defend our clients every day in the state of Pennsylvania. If you are facing DUI charges, please contact our team today.