When you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Pennsylvania, you experience a myriad of emotions. You may feel everything from fear to anger. Not only must you face being arrested, but you may soon be facing a judge. This can be incredibly stressful, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Dauphin County PA DUI Lawyer Steven E. Kellis knows what you are going through and is available to help you. If you have been charged with DUI in Dauphin County, you need to meet with Steven as soon as you are able to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Steven has been practicing law for more than 25 years, and it is his mission to help people who have been charged with driving under the influence. Before practicing law as a defense attorney, Steven worked as a local prosecutor. This experience has given Steven a unique understanding of the way the local criminal justice system works, and it has enabled him to develop relationships with the professionals who work within that system. When you choose Steven to represent you in your DUI case, you can be sure that you will be privy to the best defense you can find. Call our office at (215) 940-1200 to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.
You Have Already Given Consent
Many people are unaware that when they sign their name on the line of their driver’s license in Pennsylvania that they have given consent to a chemical test. This is known as implied consent. In other words, you have already said, before you are ever pulled over, that if a police officer requests that you submit to a breathalyzer, urine or blood test, that you will comply.
In a typical DUI case, a law enforcement officer will ask that the suspected impaired driver submit to a breathalyzer test. In other cases, an officer may suspect that the driver is under the influence of drugs, either legal or otherwise, and ask the driver to submit to a urine or blood screening.
While a driver certainly has the right to refuse any of these tests, that refusal comes with consequences thanks to the implied consent law. When you refuse to submit to a chemical test, you are subject to being charged with an additional crime and losing your driver’s license for a year or more.
Penalties for a Dauphin County DUI
If you are found guilty of having driven under the influence in Dauphin County, you face several penalties. The exact penalties you will be given depend on a number of factors unique to your incident. You could be facing:
- First Offense: If you had a blood alcohol content of 0.08-0.09, you are facing 6 months of probation and a maximum $300 fine.
- Second Offense: When you are convicted a second time, you could be sentenced to 6 months in jail and fined no more than $2,500. You all also lose your license for no more than 12 months.
- Subsequent Offenses: If you are convicted a 3rd time, or subsequently, you can be sentenced to 2 years in jail and handed a fine of up to $5,000. You could also lose your license for a year.
These penalties are in place for offenders who have not caused injury or property damage. In these cases, which are considered even more serious, there are additional penalties. You may be forced to install an interlock ignition control device in your vehicle, perform community service and attend treatment programs.
Going to Court
The thought of going to court can cause you great anxiety. Once you have hired Steven, he will review your case and advise you of what you can expect every step of the way. Typically, a DUI case will begin with your attorney reviewing all the evidence the prosecutor plans to use against you. Your attorney will then determine whether that evidence can be suppressed. If not, you may be heading to court.
If you do go to court, Dauphin County PA DUI Lawyer Steven E. Kellis will fight to protect your freedoms. He may be able to work out a plea deal on your behalf and, if not, will fight tirelessly on your behalf in court.
Speak to a Dauphin County PA DUI Lawyer Today
If you have been charged with driving under the influence, time is of the essence. Dauphin County, Pennsylvania DUI attorney Steven Kellis will put his years of experience to work for you. Call our office today for your free case evaluation.