Brought to you by Colorado DUI Drunk Driving Defense

Bensalem DWI Lawyers

1. Dorian, Goldstein, Wisniewski & Orchinik: * DUI/DWI * Drug charges * Summary offenses * Misdemeanors * Felonies * Traffic violations
2. Kelton, Stanton: * Family law topics such as divorce, child custody and child support * Real estate law involving residential and commercial transactions * Estate planning including wills, trusts and probate representation * Business law concerning various commercial transactions * Personal Bankruptcy involving Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 * Criminal law defending misdemeanors and felonies * Personal injury resulting from the negligence of others
3. Applebaum & Associates: The law is very specific with regard to the rules that must be followed in the process of making a DUI stop. If those rules are not followed, it may constitute an illegal stop and a violation of your rights. If you are facing charges for DUI and feel like the stop was unreasonable, you should contact an experienced defense lawyer to discuss the possibility that your contact with the police may have constituted an illegal stop. DUIs carry extremely serious penalties, including jail time and the loss of your driving privileges, you deserve strong representation. When law enforcement officials overstep the bounds of their authority, be sure that you have an advocate on your side who will fight for your rights and hold the police accountable to the law they were sworn to uphold.
4. Delaware Valley Criminal Defense Center: Am I going to go to Jail? Yes, if you are convicted (found guilty) of Driving Under the Influence there is mandatory jail time that is determined by the Legislature. A Mandatory sentence means that a judge has no discretion and must sentence an individual to jail time which can range from 2 days in jail to 1 year, depending on prior record. Intermediate punishment such as Work Release or House Arrest is determined by the sentencing judge. A majority of the hundreds of multiple offenders that we have represented receive house arrest, rather than several months in jail. However, if this is a first offense an individual may be eligible for the ARD program in which there is no jail time and the charges are eventually dismissed by the DA after successful completion of the program. I was stopped by the police and told I would be receiving charges in the mail Ñ what happens next? Usually within 15-30 days, you will receive the charges in the mail, along with a Summons to appear in District Court for your Preliminary Hearing. The Preliminary Hearing is the evidence hearing in which the police must prove that there is sufficient evidence to bind the charges over to the Court of Common Pleas. The police officer told me that I do not need a lawyer. Is this true? In the criminal justice system any individual can represent himself for any matter. However, an individual that represents himself is at a severe disadvantage which the police officer and the DA will probably exploit in court. If you do not know what you are doing in a Courtroom, it is akin to attempting to fix your car with a blindfold on Ñ you will do more harm than good. Your freedom and your driverÕs license is at stake when you appear in court on a criminal matter and the consequences can be dire if you represent yourself. As the saying goes, Òa lawyer that represents himself has a fool for a client.Ó According to the Supreme Court, ÒEven a skilled lawyer who represents himself is at a disadvantage in contested litigation. ...He is deprived of the judgment of an independent third party, in framing the theory of the case, evaluating alternative methods of presenting the evidence, cross-examining hostile witnesses, formulating closing arguments, and in making sure that reason, rather than emotion, dictates the proper tactical response to unforeseen developments in the courtroom.Ó The Police didnÕt see me driving. In order to be convicted of DUI, the police must prove that you were driving, operating or in actual physical control of the vehicle. If there is other evidence that the vehicle was driven, the police do not necessarily have to observe you driving. However, the defense case is stronger when there are no driving observations as Pennsylvania Courts have consistently held that more evidence is needed than the defendant found behind the wheel with the motor running. I was not read my rights (Miranda warnings) Contrary to popular belief, Miranda warnings are not required when someone is arrested. Miranda warnings are needed when an individual is in custody and is asked a question by police, which will incriminate the individual. Since DUI cases generally involve the officerÕs observations and/or Blood Alcohol amount, Miranda is not typically given. However, if you answered questions that could incriminate you and Miranda was not given, you could file a Motion to Suppress to attempt to have your statements thrown out of court. The case will not be dismissed for lack of Miranda warnings, just the incriminating statement. The police did not have a reason to stop me. If the police did not have Òreasonable suspicionÓ or probable cause for the stop, a Motion to Suppress Evidence should be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. At this hearing, the police must prove that the stop was valid. If the judge rules that the stop was unconstitutional, then all of the evidence of the case is suppressed and the case gets dismissed. I refused the breath or blood test, what happens next? If the police officer notifies Penndot of the refusal, then you will lose your license for a minimum of one (1) year. This penalty is in addition to the penalties for DUI. Upon receipt of the suspension letter, you have 30 days to appeal the suspension to the Court of Common Pleas, in which a hearing will be held to decide if the police followed proper procedures in the case. Will I lose my driverÕs license if I get convicted of DUI? The law states that any conviction for a DUI shall result in at least a one (1) year license suspension. However, in certain cases, an Occupational Limited License (bread-and-butter license) may be approved by Penndot. I was taking medication Ñ can I still be convicted of DUI? Yes. The DUI law encompasses intoxication by alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medication, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. If a blood test reveals that you had medication in you system to such an amount that it could impair your driving, then you can be charged with DUI.
5. Lacks, Stanton: Potential DUI/DWI Penalties If you are convicted of a DUI/DWI in Pennsylvania, even if it is your first offense, the penalties can be harsh. You are more likely to be saddled with severe penalties if you try to resolve the situation without help from a high-quality DUI defense lawyer: * You will lose your driver's license. Driver's license suspension is automatic after a DUI/DWI arrest and may last for a year or more. We can help get the driver's license suspension reduced or removed in addition to fighting the DUI/DWI charge. * You could lose your car insurance and your freedom to drive. Car insurance companies are not required to insure anyone and may choose to drop you after a DUI/DWI conviction. If you can even keep your insurance, you will likely be forced to get high-risk insurance, which can be two or three times the cost of your traditional insurance. If you cannot get insurance, it is illegal to drive your car. * You could go to jail. Jail time is a possible, though less likely, penalty on a first DUI/DWI conviction. After a second offense, however, jail time is mandatory. * You could lose your CDL license. Stricter rules apply to people who drive for a living. For example, if you are a commercial driver, you are subject to a lower blood alcohol percentage than a standard driver. Even if you are not engaged in commercial driving when you are arrested for the DUI/DWI, you can still lose your CDL license and your ability to drive for a living. Zero Tolerance for Drunk Drivers Under 21 Years Old Pennsylvania has a zero-tolerance policy regarding underage drunk drivers. If you test positive for any level of alcohol or drugs in your system while driving, you can be arrested and charged. You could also be tried as an adult, rather than as a juvenile, which means the possibility of jail time.