A Breakdown of Pennsylvania's DUI Penalties

Last updated 3 months ago

DUI laws vary slightly from state to state, and so do the penalties that accompany DUI convictions. Regardless of the state in which you are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your chances of having the terms of your penalty reduced or your case thrown out will improve drastically with the legal assistance of an experienced DUI attorney. For a rundown of the minimum and maximum penalties for drivers convicted of DUI in the State of Pennsylvania, continue reading this article.

First Offense

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) 0.08-0.099: First-time DUI offenders who are just beyond the legal limit may face six months of probation and a fine of up to $300. A low-level first-time offender will not have his or her license suspended.
BAC 0.10-0.159: If your BAC falls in the mid-level DUI range, you may be fined anywhere from $500 to $5,000, sentenced to spend anywhere from two days to six months in jail, and face a license suspension of one year.
BAC 0.16 or higher: If a chemical test reveals a blood alcohol content of .16 or higher, you can expect to be fined no less than $1,000 and no more than $5,000. You may face between three days and six months of jail time and have your license suspended for a year.

Second and Third Offenses
Penalties for further offenses are determined in much the same way, depending on the driver’s BAC. As with convictions for all crimes, DUI penalties are harsher for repeat offenders. With a BAC of 0.16 or higher, you could face up to 5 years in jail and fines up to $10,000. Also, you are likely to have your license suspended for a year or more and an ignition interlock system installed upon license reinstatement.

Successive Offenses
The minimum and maximum allowable penalties for a fourth, fifth, sixth, or even seventh DUI convictions are nearly identical to those for a third offense. However, the minimum allowable jail sentence for a mid-level BAC offender is one year rather than three months.

Are you looking for an experienced DUI attorney to aggressively defend you in your DUI case? Regardless of whether you are over or under the age of 21, a commercial or non-commercial driver, or have been accused or convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol before, the Law Offices of David S. Shrager can help. Call (412) 567-5833 today to arrange a free initial consultation!

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