DUI Law – Important Information About DUIs Everyone Should Know

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is absolutely essential that you do everything within your power to defend yourself against the charges. The Pennsylvania legislature has taken a tough stance on drunk driving, so whether your conviction was based on having alcohol in your system or for being impaired due to drugs, the penalties that you face can be quite severe. The experienced DUI law attorneys at Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law will provide you with aggressive legal representation designed to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced.

 

You can be charged with driving under the influence if the police believe that you are impaired. Though most people think that strictly refers to alcohol, it can also refer to drugs. It can also refer to alcohol at a lower level than what is considered legally drunk, though in most cases there is a specific standard that of the percentage of alcohol in your blood that is used as a benchmark. This is referred to as you Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), and in Philadelphia the BAC that marks you as legally drunk as 0.08. In order to determine your BAC, the police will ask you to take a breathalyzer test, and that test is supposed to be administered within two hours of your arrest. Though you can refuse to take this test, doing so will result in your driver’s license being suspended immediately.

 

There is a sliding scale of penalties for DUI charges in Philadelphia, and it is largely based upon your BAC levels. A first time offer with a blood alcohol content of .08 to .99 will face the possibility of a $300 fine, enrollment in an alcohol education program, and up to six months of probation, with repeat offenders facing stiffer charges that may include a one year suspension of their license, higher fines, jail time and the installation of an ignition interlock device on their vehicle.  Those who are found to have blood alcohol contents that are higher than .99 also face stiffer fines, and may face license suspension of up to a year.  Depending upon the severity of the offense, the driver’s license can be taken for as long as 18 months, jail time can extend to five years, and fines may go as high as $10,000. In all cases the penalty may also include attending a court-ordered treatment program.

 

The penalties for driving under the influence can have a serious impact on your life, but being charged with DUI is not the same as being convicted. Having a qualified, experienced DUI attorney representing you is your best defense against losing your license. The attorneys at Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law are dedicated to making sure that our clients’ get the best defense possible. Call us today to set up an appointment to see how we can help.

Learn more about DUI Law here – https://www.yourphiladelphialawyers.com/practice-areas/dui-lawyer/