For a person’s who’s never been arrested before, being arrested and charged with a DUI can be a bit scary and daunting. They might not understand what penalties they’re facing, whether they should simply plead guilty, or if they should hire a lawyer to help with the case. Below is a little bit of information that might help them understand what to expect.
The Penalties of a First-Offense DUI in Pennsylvania
If a person is older than 21, they can be charged with a DUI if their BAC (blood alcohol content) is .08% or higher. If they are under 21, this lowers to .02%. If they are convicted of the DUI, they face jail time at the judge’s discretion (no minimum requirement), $300 in fines and penalties, and an IID (interlock ignition device) being required in their vehicle for a certain period of time if they refused to take the chemical test when they were arrested. They do have the possibility of harsher penalties if their BAC was above .10% or .16%, as Pennsylvania has three tiers for determining penalties.
The BAC Tested at .08% or Higher, Is a Lawyer Necessary?
Many people believe that because the BAC test stated they were over the legal limit there’s no need to hire a DUI Lawyer Scranton PA to help. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is, BAC tests need to be calibrated properly before being used and they need to be administered properly for the reading to be correct. Any mistake could mean a person’s reading is higher than .08% even if their BAC isn’t actually that high. A lawyer can find things like this that discredit the evidence against the person to help them have the charges dismissed.
Even if a person did have a couple of drinks before driving, they might not be over the legal limit. Mistakes can be made that lead to a person being arrested and facing harsh penalties, even if it’s their first arrest. Instead of just pleading guilty and accepting the penalties, a person can contact a DUI Lawyer Scranton PA, to see what can be done about their case.
