Prescription Opioids and Cars Don’t Mix

Even though the news cycle is currently dominated by the pandemic and societal issues, it’s hard to turn on the television or open a newspaper without hearing about a drug-related death or crime. 

According to America’s Health Rankings, Pennsylvania had a 25% increase in drug deaths in the 2018-2019 period. That is an increase of 185% since 2007.

Over the years, new channels of drug distribution and trafficking across Pennsylvania have led to higher rates of drug addiction, which leads to more cases of drugged driving.

One of the most dangerous drugs impacting Pennsylvanians is prescription opioids. The Pennsylvania Governor’s Highway Safety Association found that 45% of fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs in 2016. More than half of those tested positive for opioids.

If you received a DUI or DWI charge in Pennsylvania, you need to hire an experienced drug defense lawyer to represent you and work to reduce your charges. … Read More

Stress and COVID

Many Pennsylvanians are experiencing high levels of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some deal with stress in a healthy and sustainable way, others are drinking heavily to numb their worries and fears. 

It’s common knowledge that stress and drinking go hand in hand. While a small amount of alcohol can help people relax in the short term, ongoing stress coupled with heavy alcohol use is a setup for disaster – especially if a person drinks and gets behind the wheel.

COVID and DUIs: Money

You should never drive drunk or under the influence of other substances. If you do, you’re not only putting yourself and others in danger, but you’re at risk of getting charged with a DUI offense. If you’re already struggling financially due to COVID-19, you’ll have even more trouble paying the bills, tickets, and fines related to a DUI.

Pennsylvania has a $300 minimum fine for first-time DUI offenders with a BAC threshold of 0.10.… Read More

Many drivers are surprised to find out that the medicine they are legally prescribed can get them in the same amount of trouble as an illegal drug. In fact, it can be worse than having a few drinks before getting behind the wheel.

Working with an experienced Pennsylvania DUI attorney can help you fight your charges and avoid harsh penalties. Many DUI stops are conducted with critical mistakes, and other procedural errors can force prosecutors to drop or reduce charges. Your DUI lawyer can also help you seek a plea deal if no strong defense strategy is available.

Learn more about your options during a free, no-obligation case review with Steven E. Kellis. Call (215) 940-1200 or contact us online now to schedule your free case evaluation.

Driving on Prescription Meds Can Lead to Harsh DUI Penalties

The specific language of Pennsylvania’s DUI statute (P.S. § 3802(d)(2)) includes a provision for when a driver is, “under the influence of a drug or combination of drugs to a degree which impairs the individual’s ability to safely drive.”… Read More

There are any number of resources regarding blood alcohol content (BAC) after you’ve been drinking. In fact, you can find our own with our BAC calculator. However, many of these require you to know how much alcohol you’ve had, and what the alcohol percentage is. For many drinkers, that kind of alcohol simply seems unavailable, especially after you’ve knocked a few back.

There are also many factors that influence your BAC. One of the most important is the alcohol by volume (ABV) in your drink. The more alcohol a drink contains, the more will enter your bloodstream, leading to stronger and more rapid intoxication levels. For example, a shot of tequila contains much more alcohol than a beer, so consuming several will increase your BAC more than several beers.

However, this is vital information. Driving with a blood alcohol content over 0.08 percent in Pennsylvania can lead to big trouble.… Read More

Being arrested for driving under the influence for the first time is stressful. Not only do you have to deal with an arrest, but you are experiencing something with which you have no prior knowledge. What will happen? Will you go to jail? Pay fines? Your mind is naturally overwhelmed with questions. To help you determine your next steps, here is what you can reasonably expect after being charged with DUI in Pennsylvania for the first time.

Administrative Penalties

In Pennsylvania, those charged with a first-offense DUI do not face a mandatory license suspension if their blood alcohol content falls at or below 0.099. For those who have a BAC range between 0.10 and 0.159, there is a mandatory license suspension of up to one year. A BAC range above 0.16 carries a mandatory suspension of one year with the possibility of any hardship license not being granted during the first two months of the suspension.… Read More

The driver who was responsible for the death of a wheelchair-bound woman and the injury of a teen pedestrian has been found by police.

Authorities have identified Andrew Acito, 29, of Glenolden Acito to be in connection with the accident. Investigators say that while Elaine was sitting in her wheelchair in the median of Lehigh Avenue at Mascher Street located in the Fairhill area when she was struck by Acito in a white 2004 Ford F-250 pickup truck. Acito then immediately struck the 18-year-old girl before fleeing the scene.

Both Elaine and the teen were transported to the hospital. Elaine later died of injuries that she sustained in the crash. The 18-year-old pedestrian was released from the hospital. She was able to identify Acito’s vehicle to investigators.

Police arrested Acito and have charged him with DUI, Homicide by Vehicle while DUI, Involuntary Manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and other related offenses.… Read More

It seems no matter where you live, there’s always the idea that drivers in other states aren’t quite up to our own standards.  When we see someone driving erratically or too slow, we take a glance at their license plate and chalk it up to “those drivers” being from somewhere else.

Drivers in New Jersey and Delaware can breathe easy now that SmartAsset, a personal finance and tech company, has determined they aren’t the worst – although they did rank within the top five worst.

SmartAsset’s report, which used a number of factors in order to determine the rankings, said that New Jersey received the #4 spot because of the number of deaths per year per number of drivers on the road. New Jersey drivers are almost all insured – 90% in fact.

Delaware drivers made it to the #5 spot because they had the most number of deaths per driver out of all of the entire country.… Read More

It’s a dangerous combination to get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking alcohol. Reflexes slow from the impairment and you can find yourself in deep trouble if you get into an accident.

That may have been exactly what happened in North Philadelphia recently in an accident that took place in the early morning hours on Thursday.

According to police, a white BMW hit a center median, shattered its windshield, and severely damaged the engine. Upon closer investigation, officers discovered that there was blood on the hood of the car. When questioned, the driver indicated that he thought he had struck an animal just prior to the accident that left his vehicle a smoking hulk in the middle of the road.

Police officers surveyed the area looking for an animal. Walking northbound on Roberts Avenue, the officers instead discovered an unidentified black male on the sidewalk, laying on his back and bleeding from his head.… Read More

There is possibly no situation that is worse for a parent than losing a child in an accident.  It can be even more disheartening, however, to have been the one driving.

That is the unfortunate situation that a Chester County woman finds herself in after she was arrested on Friday following the crash that took the life of her eight-year-old daughter.

According to authorities, Jennifer Trego, 32, of Coatesville, turned herself in to the police on Friday afternoon in connection to the crash August 13, 2015, where she was allegedly driving on a suspended license and under the influence of illicit drugs.

Trego failed to stop her minivan at an intersection that merged onto Route 82 when her vehicle was broadsided by another vehicle.  Trego’s daughter, Krista, was killed in the accident.

Tests indicated that she had marijuana along with unprescribed prescription drugs in her system at the time of the fatal crash.… Read More