The Honest Guidance You Need To Best Protect Your Rights

Potential penalties for multiple DUI offenses in Pennsylvania

On Behalf of | Oct 12, 2018 | Firm News

After having a few drinks with friends five years ago, you decided to drive home. You committed a minor traffic violation, and an officer pulled you over. The officer charged you with a DUI, and you faced serious penalties.

Unfortunately, after you attended a wedding last weekend, although you felt safe to drive, an officer pulled you over for driving over the speed limit. The officer administered a breathalyzer test, and you obtained a second DUI arrest.

In Pennsylvania, DUI convictions remain on your record for 10 years. Subsequent DUI convictions inflict stricter punishments on those that break the law multiple times, and the penalties given to you could affect your daily life drastically. To avoid maximum punishments for any DUI charge, it is essential that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. You want to give yourself the best opportunity to avoid a conviction and penalties for a second DUI in Pennsylvania.

First and subsequent DUI penalties

Pennsylvania law views driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as a serious offense. Drunk and high drivers can damage property, injure pedestrians or even kill themselves while behind the wheel.

When you received your first DUI conviction, you may have been penalized with an ungraded misdemeanor. The punishments may have included:

  • Up to 6 months’ probation
  • A $300 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Potential treatment

A secondary DUI in Pennsylvania includes far stricter punishments. You could face the conviction of an ungraded misdemeanor with penalties involving:

  • 5 days to 6 months in jail
  • License suspension for up to one year
  • A $300 to $2,500 fine
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Potential treatment
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)

Facing these potential penalties without the presence of an attorney could result in maximum conviction based on the circumstances of your second DUI charge. These penalties have personal repercussions that could send you into debt, not allow you to drive to and from work to gain income, or you could receive jail time. You want to ensure you have the best opportunity to remedy your mistake with the help of an attorney.