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Pittsburgh DWI Lawyers

1. Colazzi Law Firm: While it may seem expensive to hire a lawyer to defend you against DUI charges, it can be even more expensive to handle it on your own. In Pennsylvania, a DUI conviction can result in suspension of your driver's license, job loss and the need to pay thousands of dollars in high-risk auto insurance. Many people who are arrested for drunk driving simply can't afford to plead guilty. Diversion for First-Time Offenders Depending on the facts of your case, Pennsylvania offers accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD), which is a diversionary program for first-time offenders. While the program may involve a significant fine and the need to attend counseling classes, completing the program will enable you to avoid having a criminal DUI conviction on your record. Even if you have a past alcohol-related conviction, an experienced lawyer may be able to help you qualify for ARD by clearing your record of the first conviction. Defenses in DUI Cases Many people who face DUI charges plead guilty because they are embarrassed or they think there is no way to defeat the charges. However, there is usually something a lawyer can do to minimize the penalties or even avoid a conviction. For example, if police did not have a valid reason for stopping you in the first place, all evidence gathered after the stop (such as breathalyzer test results) may be suppressed. Breathalyzer tests can also be suppressed if police did not follow proper procedures or were not properly trained to administer the tests.
2. Sunseri, Gusty: Pittsburgh DUI Lawyers If you have been charged with drunk driving or a DUI, you need an attorney in Pittsburgh, PA who is experienced in this area. You need to immediately contact a Pittsburgh DUI lawyer who knows the Pennsylvania DUI law and procedures to be followed for each county.
3. Tully, Bernard: 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.
4. Worgul, Michael: Drunk Driving/DUI Driving under the influence is one of the most commonly committed criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. It is a more complicated offense in that it carries not only possible jail time, but potential license suspension as well. Therefore, it is extremely important to obtain the advice of experienced counsel prior to your preliminary hearing. I am very experienced in handling DUI cases throughout Western Pennsylvania and have helped many people (who have never been in trouble before) get through what seems to be a very scary situation. Call to reach me personally and set up an initial consultation where I will sit down with you and explain: * Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) - The ARD program is available to most first-time DUI offenders (though there can be complications) and does not require extensive legal fees. If you qualify, you may not face a license suspension, and successful completion results in a full expungement of and DUI record. * 2nd Offenses - If you are charged with DUI within 10 years of another DUI, you are not eligible for the ARD program, and, more importantly, the penalties increase rapidly. Depending on your Blood Alcohol Level (BAL), you could face a mandatory 90 days in jail. You are also facing an 18 month license suspension. Some cases are defensible (I will know by the preliminary hearing). However, if I advise you that your better option is to work out a plea bargain, I can help to ensure that you do not see the inside of a jail cell. * 3rd+ Offenses - If you are charged with DUI within 10 years of 2 previous DUIs, the potential penalties continue to increase. Depending on your Blood Alcohol Level (BAL), you could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 year in jail and a 2 year license suspension. I have successfully helped people obtain alternatives to prison for 3rd + DUI offenses. * Chemical Test Refusal - Under Pennsylvania law, when a person is issued a drivers license, they impliedly consent to submit to chemical testing for DUI when an officer has good reason to believe they are driving impaired. If you refuse to submit to chemical testing, you are facing a 1 year license suspension in addition to any other suspension associated with a DUI offense.
5. Zenstein, Gallant and Parlow: Just about anyone can be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County Pennsylvania because in recent years prosecutors and police have become more zealous in their efforts to catch and prosecute motorists for drunk driving. For many people, being stopped and arrested on a DUI/DWI charge can be a confusing experience. For many drivers, it is often their first involvement with the legal system. Many people assume there is no way to fight a DUI charge. This is not true. However, it is crucial that you select an experienced attorney to defend you.
6. Zagari, John: PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS - ŇSometimes remaining silent is just not enough. You need an experienced attorney to advise you on how you should and should not act." "Criminal law has evolved over the years and we believe that the rights of the accused have diminished. Your legal representation should be your only priority when confronted by as a potential suspect in a criminal case." There is specific advice on how you should act and interact with everyone involved in the criminal matter.
7. Hanna & Elliot: We understand the anxiety you feel upon facing a license suspension, heavy fine, and possible prison time depending on your prior record and/or the severity of the incident. You need a lawyer who will listen to you, not judge you, and help you develop the best strategy to defend against the charge or charges.
8. Michael Bartko:

   What You don’t Know Can Hurt You
   Many people mistakenly believe that they know all the legal ramifications when they charged with a DUI or DWI.  They think that they will have to pay a fine, have their license suspended for a while and then they will be able to start driving again. But being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime in Pennsylvania. Such a charge could result in: jail time, mandatory license suspension, large fines, and long-term consequences on your life, such as, increased insurance premiums that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the next few years.

   You Can Fight a DUI
   Many people don’t know is that you can successfully fight a DUI in Pennsylvania if you know the criminal defense system.  For example, improper traffic stops and badly conducted DUI roadblocks can mean we may be able to get evidence thrown out of court, as violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution---this means that your DUI charge goes away when the police can no longer prove that you were driving drunk. Only an experienced DUI lawyer can determine if this occurred, so contact our office as soon as possible after you or someone you care about has been charged with driving while intoxicated.

   Once you have been arrested for a DUI or DWI it is vital that you contact an attorney right away, even if it’s not us, because a lawyer will protect your important pre-trial rights and stop the prosecutor from offering you a seemingly good plea bargain that really is not in your best interests. Such deals often involve negative long-term impacts on your life that a prosecutor is not going to go out of his way to tell you about.

   Don’t give up on fighting a drunk driving charge--there is a lot more that can be done than you think.

9. Michael Moser: Bad things often happen to good people. . . good people make mistakes. . .and that a single mistake does not define a person as a criminal.
10. Carl Marcus: Misdemeanors are less serious crimes, generally punishable by a fine or incarceration in the county jail for less than one year. The prosecutor does not usually convene a grand jury to investigate and charge misdemeanor offenses, although such charges can be generated along with felonies. Most misdemeanors are charged by a written indictment or "information" and, in some jurisdictions, poor defendants are not entitled to a court-appointed lawyer in misdemeanor cases. Nonetheless, a misdemeanor charge-let alone a conviction-can wreak havoc in the accused's personal life and thus zealous legal representation is critical in misdemeanor cases as in all criminal cases. It's still critical for an accused to seek help from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
11. James Brink: There are well over one hundred different crimes that fall under the umbrella of federal crimes. Charges may be filed against you in federal court if you have committed an offense under the U.S. criminal code as opposed to State criminal code or you have committed an offense of federal government property.  In some cases, you may be charged both at the state level and the federal level without violating the laws against double jeopardy.
12. Allen, Crosby & Sughrue: The State of Pennsylvania does not recognize driving as a right. It is merely a privilege. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) has vast authority to suspend Pennsylvania driver's license holders. If you refuse that field sobriety, breathalyzer, or blood test, your driverŐs license will be suspended for one year, whether or not you are charged with or convicted of DUI. And the new blood alcohol content (BAC) level has been lowered from .10% to .08. A conviction of DUI in Pennsylvania can have severe consequences. In addition to suspension or loss of your driverŐs license, you may have to pay substantial fines or even spend time in jail. Your auto insurance rates can skyrocket. Upon a second DUI conviction, you will be required to have an ignition interlock system installed on each vehicle you own. This device prevents you from starting your car if you have been drinking. An experienced DUI defense lawyer can help you avoid these serious consequences.
13. Shrager & Medoff: The judicial system views DUI much more seriously now than ever before. Enforcement is strict and public sentiment demands serious punishment for those convicted. A skilled attorney, however, is familiar with the complexities of DUI laws, the equipment used to measure the degree of impairment, and the skills of the officers administering the tests.
14. Kozlowski & Ludovici: Driving Under the Influence/Driving While Intoxicated - Persons accused of crimes associated with alcohol or drugs need the assistance of a skilled criminal lawyer. A "routine" motor vehicle stop leading to arrest for DUI or possession of drugs invokes constitutional rights. Your defense requires a knowledge of proper legal motions, defenses and skilled cross-examination.