Driving under the influence is considered a serious crime in Pennsylvania. Depending on the amount of alcohol in your blood and whether you are a repeat offender, you might face a high fine and even time in jail. If you’ve been convicted, you will need good DUI defense attorneys local to Harrisburg, PA to fight for your rights. They will first invite you to an initial consultation to find out more about your case and get a better idea of how to lay it out.
If at all possible, they will try to get all charges dropped. This is an option if one of the officers who arrested you breached protocol. Similarly, the accuracy of the chemical testing could be questioned. By getting your case dismissed, your lawyer can prevent you from facing the consequences of your arrest, which can be severe and affect you for a decade or more.
After you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence, you will need to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as you can. In your first meeting, you should bring as much information about the incident as possible, so the attorney has the best chance of finding a reason to dismiss your case. They will work with you to build up a solid case and possibly argue that you were not under the influence or you were arrested without just cause.
In many cases, an issue that is grounds for dismissal can be found. However, even if this isn’t true, you can still benefit from a lawyer’s advice because they can significantly reduce your penalties. Let’s have a closer look at what consequences you might face after a DUI and how you and your attorney could minimize the issue.
The penalties for driving under the influence vary, depending on how much alcohol you had and whether you have been arrested for the first time or not. First-time offenders with a BAC of 0.08% to 0.099% will simply have six months of probation, a $300 fine, and they will need to attend highway safety school. However, someone caught with a BAC of 0.16% or more could go to jail for three days to six months and face a license suspension, even if it’s their first offense.
These penalties increase sharply if you have had trouble with DUI in the past. Someone who has been caught for the second or third time will assuredly have their driver’s license suspended and could face up to five years in jail. It’s important to remember that the penalties will be adjusted to your individual situation, so they might differ from the ones listed here. However, these guidelines give you an idea of the harsh consequences you could face after a DUI conviction.
It’s not hard to imagine that having your license suspended and going to jail will significantly affect your life for many years. For one, you won’t be able to attend your job, so you might lose it. People with a criminal record also face many issues in day-to-day life. They often have trouble getting a loan or a mortgage, and potential employers who do a background check could refuse to hire them after finding out about the conviction.
What’s more, many people find that there are social consequences. After a conviction, your friends and family members might perceive you as less trustworthy, which can make it harder for you to bond with them. For this reason, it’s crucial that you hire a good lawyer and fight against the charges. If they are dropped and your records are expunged, you won’t have to let anyone know about your conviction, and you can move on with your life.
Once you get in touch with highly qualified DUI defense attorneys in Harrisburg, PA, they will invite you to an initial consultation. This meeting allows you and the lawyer to get to know each other and figure out whether you’d like to work together. It is also a chance for them to find out more about your case and come up with a strategy.
Often, a DUI case can be dismissed if mistakes were made during the arrest. That’s why you’ll need to bring any evidence you already have and explain what happened in great detail. Events that might seem irrelevant to you could give the lawyer an important clue about how to lay out your case.
One of the most common issues during an arrest is that the officers didn’t follow protocol. In fact, they might not have had a probable cause for your arrest, which means that they pulled you over without a good reason. Since this is not allowed, it might be enough to get the judge to throw out your case.
Your attorney will go through the event minute by minute to figure out whether there was a breach of protocol that could be used to stop your conviction.
In many cases, your DUI case can be thrown out because of a breach of protocol. However, if this isn’t possible, it’s still worth contacting a lawyer because they can reduce your penalty. If you were convicted for the first time, they might even be able to keep you out of jail. This could make it significantly easier for you to move on from the conviction and rebuild your life.
Getting arrested for driving under the influence is a serious issue because the penalties in Pennsylvania are harsh. You might get your license suspended, receive a hefty fine, or even go to jail. These consequences can negatively affect your life in a number of ways. For instance, you could lose your job if you’re no longer able to drive there, and after spending time in prison, it can often be much harder to find new employment.
Fortunately, good DUI defense attorneys can help fight against such an arrest. They will attempt to get your case dismissed, so it’s no longer on your record, and you can move on with your life. If this isn’t possible, they will minimize your penalties, so you don’t suffer unnecessarily. Call us today at Jameson Stone Law in Harrisburg, PA to book your first appointment and speak to one of our experts.