What Can I Expect If I Have Been Arrested for A DUI in Philadelphia?

The state of Pennsylvania is extremely aggressive in their pursuit of drivers who operate their vehicles while intoxicated. If you have been arrested for a DUI in Philadelphia, you should expect the process to be much different from what you may previously have experienced if you’ve ever faced a speeding ticket or other traffic offense. Pennsylvania considers a charge of driving while intoxicated to be more similar to a criminal charge than a traffic offense, and that means that it is necessary for the defendant to appear in court in order to hear the charge that is being filed against them. At Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law, we understand that this can be an intimidating and embarrassing process, and so we make sure that we are by your side at every step along the way. We will make sure that you understand what is going on and that you are fully prepared so that you can have a sense of control and confidence that you are in competent legal hands.

When you appear before a municipal judge on charges of DUI, the first thing that will happen is that the judge will explain the charges against you and what your rights are under the law. You will then need to enter either a guilty or not guilty plea. If you plead guilty you will automatically be convicted of the crime of DWI, but if you plead not guilty your case will be postponed to a later date for trial. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to have an experienced attorney by your side from the very first step of the proceeding. Having one of the DUI defense attorneys from Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law by your side at your first appearance will mean that we will request an adjournment, providing us with much more time to prepare a defense on your behalf and giving you the best possible option for getting the charges against you reduced or dropped entirely.

Though it may be tempting to simply plead guilty to a DWI charge in Philadelphia, or even not to appear on the date provided in your summons, doing so will only make matters much worse for you. Failure to appear will result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest, while pleading guilty will immediately mean that your driving privileges will be suspended, you’ll face a hefty fine, and may even face jail time. Even those convicted of the lowest level of DWI offense face a mandatory insurance surcharge of $1,000 per year for three years, a $100 DUI enforcement surcharge, and six months to a year of ignition interlock device being installed in your vehicle after your driving privileges are restored.

At Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law we have a successful record of challenging evidence in DWI cases, including citing improper field testing or the way that a breath or blood test is administered. To give yourself the best chance after being arrested for DUI in Philadelphia, call us today.

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