After a drunk driving accusation, you need to work with an experienced legal team who can potentially protect you from harsh criminal penalties. Steven E. Kellis is a skilled DUI lawyer in Northampton with the knowledge to help you fight for a favorable outcome.
The punishment you could face if convicted of drunk driving in Pennsylvania is very severe, and we are dedicated to aggressively defending clients who are accused of any impaired driving crime.
The Law Offices of Steven E. Kellis boasts over 25 years of hands-on experience in jury trials. Your case will be personally handled by a former DUI prosecutor who understands Pennsylvania DUI law and the tactics used to convict defendants. By working with a DUI lawyer in Northampton, you’ll fight against jail time, fines, license suspension or revocation, a criminal record, and other penalties.
Northampton County Extreme DUI
The state of Pennsylvania operates under a tiered system regarding DUI penalties based on a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Logically, the higher the level of impairment, the stricter the penalties.
What Are the DUI Penalties in Pennsylvania?
For the highest-level DUI, the penalties typically include the following:
1st offense:
- One-year license suspension
- Seventy-two hours to six months in jail
- Fines between $1,000 – $5,000
- Mandatory alcohol highway safety school
- Court-ordered alcohol and drug treatment
2nd offense:
- First-degree misdemeanor charge
- Automatic 18-month license suspension
- Ninety days to five years imprisonment
- $1,500 to $10,000 in fines
- Mandatory alcohol highway safety school
- Court-ordered alcohol and drug treatment.
- Ignition interlock system for one year
3rd and subsequent offenses
- First-degree misdemeanor charge
- Automatic 18-month license suspension
- One to five years in jail
- $2,500 to $10,000 in fines
- Court-ordered alcohol and drug treatment
- Ignition interlock system for one year
Besides the court-ordered penalties, your car insurance rates will likely go up (sometimes even triple), which might haunt you for the rest of your driving life. Sometimes, your insurance carrier might drop you, and you might have difficulty finding other affordable coverage.
Northampton County Underage DUI lawyer
Underage DUIs are very lucrative for the state of Pennsylvania. There were over 50,000 DUI arrests made last year, and many of them were underage DUIs. This is because Pennsylvania has a policy in place that makes it illegal for anybody under the age of 21 to drive with any alcohol in their bloodstream.
Any Pennsylvania driver under the age of 21 whose BAC tests .02 or above can be arrested and charged with an underage DUI. Underage DUI convictions carry severe consequences for the driver involved. These consequences can include:
- Loss of the driver’s license
- Time-consuming alcohol classes
- Fines, fees, and other financial penalties
- A criminal record
- Towing and impounding of the driver’s vehicle
While some consequences can happen immediately after an arrest, most are imposed after a conviction. The best way to avoid a conviction is by seeking the counsel of an experienced DUI lawyer in Northampton.
DUI-Related Accidents Can Have Serious Consequences
When someone is arrested for DUI following a crash, there are serious consequences, particularly if
someone else is hurt or killed. Dealing with a potential drunk driving conviction, more charges, and a possible felony on your record can be a stressful situation for anyone.
A felony on your criminal record will affect your life forever, including your career, reputation, ability to own firearms and obtain a driver’s license. These severe consequences make it important for those who have been accused of DUI with injuries in Pennsylvania to be able to defend themselves with the help of an experienced DUI defense attorney.
What Are Common Drunk Driver Hit-and-Run Defenses?
Some common defenses to drunk driver accident charges might include:
- You were not driving the vehicle that caused the accident. While police can quickly identify a vehicle involved in an accident, it is not always simple to identify the actual driver.
- You were not guilty of DUI. If the police do not have physical evidence that your blood alcohol content was above the legal limit and you were not drunk at the time of the accident, you might have a defense against the drunk driving charge.
- The police broke the law while gathering evidence. Suppose the police did not follow the proper procedures and afford you all your rights during the investigation and arrest. In that case, some of the evidence gathered may be inadmissible at trial, allowing you to negotiate a favorable settlement.
Suppose you have been arrested for a DUI and face additional charges for a related automobile accident. In that case, it is best to call an experienced DUI attorney who can guide you through the process and provide options.
Plausible Legal Defenses against a DUI Charge in Northampton County
Despite what you see as overwhelming evidence against you, several defenses may apply in your case. Your Northampton County DUI law firm can assist you in raising the defenses that are potentially applicable in your case:
Blood-alcohol concentration (BAC)
Many issues can arise with BAC levels, including the proper administration of BAC tests and defects in the machines used, which can be challenged in a DUI trial.
Probable cause
A police officer must have the appropriate probable cause to stop, detain, and arrest a person who is ultimately accused of DUI in the first place.
Under the influence
Whether a person appears to be under the influence is often subjective and open to interpretation. Likewise, the results of field sobriety testing are subjective and may be attributed to factors other than intoxication.
Experienced Northampton County DUI Lawyer
In the state of Pennsylvania, DUI penalties are based on previous criminal history, along with the blood alcohol content (BAC) level of the defendant. Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of 0.08 percent (the legal maximum) to 0.099 percent can result in a $300 fine and probation for up to six months if the offense is your first.
A higher BAC could result in jail time, license suspension, and mandatory rehabilitation attendance. Second and subsequent convictions can result in increased punishment, including a mandatory jail sentence for even a second offense.
Our Northampton County DUI Law Firm’s Approach to Drunk Driving Cases
The Law Offices of Steven E. Kellis understand the legal issues evident in DUI cases. It would help to have a defense attorney who understands how blood or breath chemical testing, field sobriety tests, probable cause for arrest, and other details could affect your case outcome.
Steven Kellis will thoroughly review every aspect of your case and help you protect your constitutional rights throughout the investigation and potential trial. He can help you explore every possible legal option and aggressively defend you to achieve an acquittal, case dismissal, lesser charge, lighter sentence, or other preferred outcome.
Contact Us Now for a Pennsylvania DUI Case Evaluation
While police and prosecutors will be working quickly to build their case against you, DUI lawyers in Pennsylvania can help you plot the course of your case, work to protect your driving privileges, and prepare you for a potential trial.
Contact The Law Offices of Steven E. Kellis at (215) 977-4183 for a free case consultation. A DUI lawyer in Northampton will be available by phone or online through our contact form.