Camp Hill DUI Defense Attorney
A DUI conviction in Pennsylvania can negatively impact your life far more significantly than the steep fines and potential jail time. Because your criminal record is a matter of public information, a conviction can also have profound social consequences that can be difficult to put behind you, and if you lose your driver’s license, your ability to earn a living can also be affected. Suffice it to say that a DUI conviction can derail the life you’ve built for yourself, and if you’re facing a DUI charge, you shouldn’t wait to discuss the charge with an experienced Camp Hill DUI defense attorney.
DUI Charges in Pennsylvania
A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent is the legal limit in Pennsylvania, and DUI charges are based on the defendant’s BAC level, any prior offenses, and any circumstances that enhance the severity of the crime. For first-time offenders, the state focuses on treatment options rather than solely on harsh punishment and driver’s license suspension – which is not to say that you’ll get off easy for a first conviction.
DUI charges in Pennsylvania break down into three categories that include:
- General impairment, which involves a BAC of from .08 to .099 percent
- High BAC, which involves a BAC of from .1 to .159 percent
- Highest BAC, which involves a BAC of .16 percent and higher
Penalties Faced
Even for a first DUI offense with no charge enhancements, a conviction is an ungraded misdemeanor that carries all the following fines and penalties:
- Requirement of an ignition interlock device for a full year
- Up to six months’ probation
- Fines of up to $300
- Required attendance at alcohol highway safety school
- A potential alcohol treatment requirement
The consequences only become more serious from here, and you’ll face a one-year driver’s license suspension as well as a jail sentence of from five to six days if you have a prior conviction on your record.
Pleading Guilty Won’t Serve You Well
Simply pleading guilty to the DUI charge against you is not a great strategy and will afford you no leverage in the process. Regardless of the level of evidence that the prosecution has against you – or that you think they have against you – a better approach is proceeding with the professional legal counsel of a practiced DUI defense attorney backing you up. Their goal is having the charge against you dropped altogether, and when this isn’t a possibility, your attorney will employ their solid negotiation skills in a focused pursuit of reduced consequences.
The prosecution is charged with proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and you can count on the case they build against you to include legal flaws – flaws that your determined DUI defense attorney will skillfully attack. In other words, the case against you is not a foregone conclusion, and having savvy legal representation in your corner can make a significant difference in its outcome.
An Experienced Camp Hill DUI Defense Attorney Can Help
Geoffrey McInroy at The Law Office of Geoffrey McInroy, LLC, is a formidable DUI defense attorney whose imposing experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney leaves him especially well prepared to fiercely defend your rights and to resolve your case as favorably as possible. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 717-540-6833 today.