Pennsylvania DUI Penalties
One of the biggest concerns that people accused of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving after imbibing (DAI) have, and one of the most frequent questions I get as a Norristown DUI lawyer, is what penalties are possible for a conviction in a particular case. This is not an easy question to answer because the penalties are dependent on a number of factors, including prior offenses, blood alcohol content (BAC) and others.
At The Law Offices of Basil D. Beck III, I dedicate a substantial portion of my practice to helping people who are facing drunk driving charges. As your Pennsylvania DUI penalties defense lawyer, I will fight aggressively to beat the charges against you. My goal is always to avoid a conviction so that you can walk away with your rights intact and no penalties to fulfill.
DUI Penalties in Pennsylvania
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the following penalties apply for the three levels of DUI based on an individual’s BAC readings.
General Impairment Penalties in PA (.08 to .099 percent BAC):
No Prior DUI Offenses in PA:
- Ungraded misdemeanor
- Up to six months probation
- $300 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
One Prior DUI Offense in PA:
- Ungraded misdemeanor
- 12-month license suspension
- Five days to six months jail time
- $300 to $2,500 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Two or More Prior DUI Offenses in PA:
- Second degree misdemeanor
- 12-month license suspension
- 10 days to two years prison
- $500 to $5,000 fine
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
High BAC penalties (.10 to .159 percent BAC) in PA:
No prior DUI offenses in PA:
- Ungraded misdemeanor
- 12-month license suspension
- 48 hours to six months prison
- $500 to $5,000 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
One prior DUI offense in PA:
- Ungraded misdemeanor
- 12-month suspension
- 30 days to six months prison
- $750 to $5,000 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Two or more prior DUI offenses in PA:
- First degree misdemeanor
- 18-month license suspension
- 90 days to five years prison
- $1,500 to $10,000 fine
- treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Three or more prior DUI offenses in PA:
- First-degree misdemeanor
- 18-month license suspension
- One to five years prison
- $1,500 to $10,000 fine
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Highest BAC penalties (.16 percent and higher) or intoxication by a controlled substance:
No prior DUI offenses in PA:
- Ungraded misdemeanor
- 12-month license suspension
- 72 hours to six months prison
- $1,000 to $5,000 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
One prior DUI offense in PA:
- First-degree misdemeanor
- 18-month license suspension
- 90 days to five years prison
- $1,500 to $10,00 fine
- Alcohol highway safety school
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Two or more prior DUI offenses in PA:
- First-degree misdemeanor
- 18-month license suspension
- One to five years prison
- $2,500 to $10,000
- Treatment when ordered
- One-year ignition interlock
Call for a Free Consultation
Contact my offices in Norristown, Lansdowne or Paoli to discuss your DUI/DAI case. I provide a free initial consultation where you can receive an honest assessment of your case and learn more about the defense options available to you. You can reach me by phone at 610-239-8870 or via e-mail.