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Pittsburgh DWI Lawyers

  1. Tabano, Steven: P E N N S Y L V A N I A D U I P E N A L T I E S Pennsylvania law provides that a personŐs Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) and the number of times the person has committed a DUI will dictate what punishment they will receive. As of February 2, 2004 there are three categories a person will fall into based on the level of the alcohol in their system. There is a) .08%-.099% b) .10% - .159% c) .16% and higher Included in this category are refusal to submit to a test. All of the categories require a Court Reporting Network (CRN) evaluation; the first and second offenders require Alcohol Highway Safety. (AHSS). BAC .16 or higher and all subsequent offenses require a mandatory Drug and Alcohol (D&A) assessment and treatment. All second and subsequent offense requires the installation of an Ignition Interlock System. FIRST OFFENSE (NO PRIOR PA DUI OFFENSES WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS) BAC is .08% to .099%. This is an ungraded misdemeanor with a 6 month maximum probation and a $300.00 fine. Required CRN, AHSS and possible D&A. There is no loss of license and no jail time with this particular category. BAC is .10% to .159%. This is an ungraded misdemeanor with a mandatory 48 hour imprisonment up to a possible 6 months and a $500.00 to $5,000.00 fine. Required CRN, AHSS and possible D&A. The license suspension is 12 months. However there is a possibility to get an Occupational Limited License (OLL) after serving a hard 2 month suspension. BAC is .16% or higher or refusal to give a blood or breath sample. This is ungraded misdemeanor with a mandatory 72 hour imprisonment up to a possible 6 months and a $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 fine. Required CRN, AHSS and mandatory full D&A. The license suspension is 12 months. Also possibility for OLL after serving hard 2 months suspension. SECOND OFFENSE BAC is .08% to .099%. This is an ungraded misdemeanor with a mandatory 5 days imprisonment 6 month maximum jail sentence and a $300.00 to $2,500.00 fine. The license suspension is for 12 months. Required CRN, AHSS, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .10% to .159%. This is ungraded misdemeanor with a mandatory 30 days imprisonment 6 month maximum jail sentence and a $750.00 to $5,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 12 months. Required CRN, AHSS, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .16% or higher or a refusal. This is graded as a misdemeanor of the First Degree with a mandatory 90 days imprisonment 5 year maximum jail sentence and a $ 1,500.00 to $10,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 12 months. Required CRN, AHSS, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. THIRD OFFENSE BAC is .08% to .099%. This is graded as misdemeanor of the Second Degree with a mandatory 10 days imprisonment 2 year maximum jail sentence and a $500.00 to $5,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 12 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .10% to .159%. This is graded as a misdemeanor of the First Degree with a mandatory 90 days imprisonment 5 year maximum jail sentence and a $1,500.00 to $10,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 18 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .16% or higher or a refusal. This is graded as a misdemeanor of the First Degree with a mandatory 1 year imprisonment 5 year maximum jail sentence and a $ 2,500.00 to $10,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 18 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. FOURTH OFFENSE BAC is .08% to .099%. This is graded as misdemeanor of the Second Degree with a mandatory 10 days imprisonment 2 year maximum jail sentence and a $500.00 to $5,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 12 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .10% to .159%. This is graded as a misdemeanor of the First Degree with a mandatory 1 year imprisonment 5 year maximum jail sentence and a $1,500.00 to $10,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 18 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months. BAC is .16% or higher or a refusal. This is graded as a misdemeanor of the First Degree with a mandatory 1 year imprisonment 5 year maximum jail sentence and a $ 2,500.00 to $10,000.00 fine. The license suspension is for 18 months. Required CRN, D&A and Ignition Interlock for 12 months.
  2. Lorence, Michael: A drunk driving charge is not something to ignore or dismiss as unimportan
  3. Davant & Associates: Personal injury DUI Auto accidents Truck accidents Medical malpractice Defective products Product liability Wrongful death
  4. Michael Sherman: You face stiff penalties including jail and license suspension.
  5. Allegheny Law Firm: You cannot afford a DUI conviction because: you can receive jail time or either Alternative Housing or Intermediate Punishment (House Arrest with an ankle bracelet) at your expense; your driverŐs license can be suspended from thirty (30) days to eighteen (18) months; your car insurance rates WILL rise or your coverage may be canceled; the average out-of-pocket cost for a DUI conviction is between $1,500 and $5000; you may be required to have an Interlock Ignition switch installed in your vehicle at your own expense; and, you could lose your job due to any of the above. The Traditional DUI Stop, What to Expect! To execute a traditional DUI traffic stop (other than those made at a DUI checkpoint), a police officer must have a reasonable suspicion that you have committed some violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, usually for a moving violation or because your vehicle is not up to code. From the moment the officer initiates the stop, he or she is observing your actions to determine if you are intoxicated. The officer will be observing and scrutinizing odors coming from the vehicle, your speech, your attitude, clothing, the conduct of passengers as well as other physical evidence to make his initial determination of whether or not to proceed further with his DUI investigation. If ordered out of your vehicle, the officer may employ several field sobriety tests to determine if you are intoxicated. These tests include the walk and turn, the one leg stand and various other counting or alphabet tests. If the officer finds that there is probable cause to believe that you are under the influence, you most likely will be arrested and taken for either a blood or breath test to determine your exact blood alcohol level. In the event your blood alcohol level exceeds 0.08% or if the office simply believes, based on his observations, that you were incapable of safely operating your vehicle, you will charged with a DUI and most likely multiple other criminal and / or vehicular charges. At this point it is imperative that you immediately contact an attorney.
  6. Moser, Michael: DUI Charges Perhaps The Most Common Criminal Charge... A DUI Conviction Can Change Your Life... A DUI conviction can mean the loss of liberty, jail time, and the loss of your driver's license and ability to work. If you are charged with DUI, there may be issues upon which your case may be won at trial, or there may be options for sentencing which may permit you to retain your freedom, your job, and in some cases, even your driving privileges. Call Attorney Moser today at 412 256 0330 to discuss your case. Drinking And Driving Don't Mix
  7. Nightingale, Patrick: * All Felonies * All Misdemeanors * DUI / DWI / Drunk Driving * Marijuana & Drug Possession * Burglary, Robbery & Theft * Assault & Battery * Homicide & Attempted * Sex Offenses & Megan's Law Violation * Arson * Rape * Federal and State Defense * State and Federal Appellate & Post Conviction
  8. Cook & Tate: * Bankruptcy - helping individuals file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas * Real Estate Law - residential and corporate, closings, purchase and sell agreements, for sale by owner and more * Estate Planning - helping individuals with estate plans, wills, living wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living trusts and more * Probate & Estate Administration - probate and estate administration services in Western Pennsylvania * Family Law - divorce, custody, child support, alimony, grandparents rights, adoptions and more * DUI and DWI - criminal defense for those charged with DUI or drunk driving in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities * Business Litigation
  9. DePasquale, James: Criminal Defense Driving While Intoxicated Drugs Felonies and Misdemeanors including Homicide including Medical Malpractice Insurance Bad Faith Narcotics Plaintiffs Personal Injury Premises Liability White Collar Crimes
  10. Mansmann & Moore: Whatever the charge, your case needs to be taken seriously. Obviously, serious drug selling or drug distribution charges, or black-collar crimes, can involve years in prison. But matters, such as DWI / DUI offenses and/or moving violations can involve jail time, and have a huge impact on your driving privileges and insuranceŃthus impacting your ability to make a living. If you are arrested and charged with a crime or summary citation, you want a lawyer that understands the justice system; knows how to protect your rights by filing the appropriate motions; and knows how to argue a case in front of a judge or jury.
  11. Bernard Tully: Pennsylvania new DUI penalties are serious: You could be facing mandatory jail time with certain types of DUI or drug charges. Or you could be eligible for probation for certain DUI or drug charges.
  12. Lewis, Lewis & Riley:

    If you have been arrested and charged with DUI, DAI, or drunk driving in Pennsylvania, you may find yourself facing tough fines and penalties due to tougher legislation enacted in 2003, especially if you have a blood alcohol level of .16% or higher, or if you have had multiple charges. In fact, the fines have tripled for drivers who have blood alcohol levels of .16%.

    Additionally, you may be forced to undergo a complete alcohol and drug assessment, as well as treatment if the court considers it part of your punishment. The alternative would be a longer time in jail as part of your sentence.

    If your blood alcohol concentration places you at the lower end of the three tiered system that has been instituted as part of the stateŐs drunk driving enforcement plan, you might still be faced with the suspension or revocation of your Pennsylvania driverŐs license.

    Wrongful Arrests

    In some instances, you may be a victim of wrongful arrest due to police misconduct involving field sobriety test and breathalyzer misuse. Our criminal defense attorneys have special expertise in overturning DUI cases involving inaccurate or corrupt breathalyzer tests. Breathalyzer devices, just like the humans who operate them, are not perfect. To suggest that these machines are always perfect is to assume that our cars (or other machines) will never break down.

    As such, you are entitled to question any breathalyzer reading or officer observation before the state imposed any punishment. If an arrest or fine is imposed based on improper readings or illegal protocol, you are entitled to compensation.

  13. Anthony DeLuca: After a criminal charge, there are a variety of legal options available to you, including avoiding jail time, reducing or eliminating your criminal charge, expunging your record, reacquiring a suspended driverŐs license, and completing an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.
  14. David Shrager: One mistake -- one drink too many -- can cause years of trouble. Often, a person charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs has never been in trouble with the law before, and has simply made a mistake following a party or evening with friends. The Pennsylvania Legislature recently enacted a tough new DUI law. The penalties for DUI charges have become increasingly severe. Arrested for Drunk Driving? What You Need to Know Every week, hundreds of drivers in Pennsylvania are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. Regardless of guilt, most drivers are unprepared for this stop. This gives the police an unfair advantage when subjecting already nervous drivers to a battery of tests and the harshest of penalties. There are many things you should know about a DUI stop. * What to do if you are ever pulled over for drunk driving * What to do if you have already been arrested for drunk driving * Do remain polite and courteous during the DUI stop. * Do take the breathalyzer or blood test. If this is your first offense, you may be eligible for a pretrial diversion program. There is a good chance that you can avoid a conviction and a subsequent criminal record. * Don't take field sobriety tests like walking in a straight line or finger to nose touching. These tests are highly subjective and do not prove any level of intoxication. Additionally, even if you "pass" one of these tests, the police officer may still say that you failed. * Don't admit drinking. * Don't answer the police officer's questions other than your name and address. * Do exercise your Fifth Amendment rights: the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Pennsylvania law mandates jail time and driver's license suspension for a drunk driving conviction. There is, however, an alternative available to certain people, including first-time offenders. The ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) Program is available for first-time offenders of non-violent crimes, especially misdemeanor cases. In ARD, an individual can have his or her case dismissed and record erased after probation has been served.
  15. Grossinger Gordon Vatz: For most people who are stopped and arrested for Driving Under the Influence, it is their first encounter with the criminal justice system. They will face arraignment, magistrate hearings and trials, and will have to make important decisions about whether to plead guilty or not guilty. If you have been arrested for drunk driving it is important to contact an experienced Pittsburgh DUI lawyer to help you through these difficult choices.
  16. Lisa Petruzzi: You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
  17. David Lovejoy: Many times police officers make mistakes and a DUI can be beat, or you may be eligible for ARD (accelerated rehabilitative disposition) instead of a jail term.
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