Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Chester County PA
What Happens When You Are Convicted of DUI in Chesco?
The penalties for a DUI conviction in Pennsylvania are connected to your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level at the time of arrest.
Penalties for DUI are separated into three tiers – Lowest, High, and Highest.
For a first-time DUI in Chester County at the lowest tier, you are still facing a misdemeanor conviction, six months of probation, and a $300 fine, plus a loss of license, other fines, and mandatory Alcohol Highway Safety School and take the CRN evaluation (a $75 fee) for other possible alcohol treatments.
At the highest tier, a first-time DUI offender in Chester County faces a mandatory 72 hours in jail and a maximum of six months in jail, a misdemeanor, up to $5,000 in fines, and a one-year license suspension, among other fines and treatment programs you may be required to attend.
If this is a second DUI, third DUI, or subsequent offense, the penalties are much higher. If you are a certified professional or a CDL holder, you are at risk of losing your professional license and career over a DUI.
Read more information about the different BAC tiers and penalties for DUI in PA.
You can also view the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing DUI Statute.
Also, review the PA Code 75 Chapter 38 Driving After Imbibing Alcohol or Utilizing Drugs
In addition to the immediate penalties you face, there are also lasting consequences to a DUI conviction that negatively impact your future for many years to come.
An Arrest is Not a Conviction.
Not every DUI arrest ends up as a DUI conviction – it is important to speak with an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible to go over your options and fight for your charges to be either reduced or dropped altogether.
Do Not Fight DUI Charges Alone
Call Today for a Free Legal Case Evaluation
Call Chester County DUI Attorney Saadzoi
610-566-5956
SENTENCING GUIDELINES – DUI IN PENNSYLVANIA
Tier 1: General Impairment (BAC .08 – .099)
- 1st Offense DUI: A misdemeanor, six months probation and a $300 fine;
- 2nd Offense DUI: A misdemeanor, five days to six months in jail, a $300 -$2500 fine, and a one-year license suspension;
- 3rd Offense DUI: 2nd-degree misdemeanor, ten days to two years in prison, a $500 -$5,000 fine, and a one-year license suspension.
Tier 2. High Rate (BAC .10 – .159)
- 1st Offense DUI: A misdemeanor, 48 hours to six months in jail, a $500 – $5,000 fine, and a one-year license suspension;
- 2nd Offense DUI: A misdemeanor, 30 days – six months jail, a $750 – $5,000 fine, and a one-year license suspension;
- 3rd Offense DUI: A 1st-degree misdemeanor, 90 days – five years in prison, a $1,500 – $10,000 fine, and an 18-month license suspension;
- 4th Offense DUI: A 1st-degree misdemeanor, One year to five years in prison, a $1,500 – $10,000 fine, and an 18-month license suspension.
Tier 3. Highest Rate (BAC .16 +); Controlled Substance (Drug DUI) ; Refusal of Chemical Test
- 1st Offense DUI: A misdemeanor, 72 hours – six months jail, a $1,000 – $5,000 fine; a one-year license suspension;
- 2nd Offense DUI: A first-degree misdemeanor, 90 days – five years in prison a $1,500 – $10,000 fine, and an 18-month license suspension;
- 3rd Offense DUI: A felony 1 or 2, up to ten years in prison, up to $25,000 in fines, and an 18-month license suspension.
See the full Pennsylvania Penalties for DUI convictions.
Get more information on:
Court Reporting Network (CRN) Evaluation in Chester County, PA
All DUI offenders in Pennsylvania are required to pay a $75 fee to take the CRN Evaluation (Court Reporting Network). The CRN evaluation will determine whether you will be recommended for further drug and alcohol assessment. The CRN takes 30-45 minutes.
You will need to bring the following to your appointment:
- Driver’s License or form of identification;
- Criminal complaint;
- Date of arrest;
- $75 CRN fee (must be paid prior to the evaluation (cash, credit card, check, or money order) at the Probation, Parole & Pretrial Services Office in the Chester County Justice Center located at 201 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380. E-payments can be made via the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.
Get more information about this process at the Chester County DUI Program.
For more information, please see the Chester County PA DUI Program Overview.
Speak With A DUI Attorney First.
Contact PA DUI Lawyer Saadzoi today to schedule a free legal case evaluation.
The Law Offices of Wana Saadzoi, Esquire LLC can also help if you were charged with DUI in Delaware County PA or DUI in Montgomery County PA.
In addition, you may be able to have your arrest and conviction in PA expunged.
Protect Your Rights. Call 610-566-5956 to schedule a consultation. Spanish translation services are available and credit cards are accepted.
Get Aggressive Representation
Call Today for a Free Legal Case Evaluation
Contact PA DUI Attorney Saadzoi
610-566-5956
How Can Saadzoi Law Help?
A conviction for DUI could have disastrous consequences on your future. A criminal record makes it difficult to find employment, obtain housing, and get loans for education, automobiles, and housing. It can be a negative weight hanging over your shoulders for a long time.
Fighting a DUI charge could help weaken the impact, by having your charges reduced or dismissed.
Attorney Saadzoi has years of experience successfully helping clients get their DUI charges reduced, dismissed, and resolved. A DUI charge in Chester County can be very stressful.
At Saadzoi Law, we review the details of your DUI arrest and ask you questions about what you and the police said. We review police reports and determine if the stop was lawful and if you were in control of the vehicle. If not, or if there are any other circumstances permitting, Attorney Saadzoi will file motions to gain leverage over the prosecution. She will do everything to get your charges reduced or dismissed altogether.
She will also help you understand the procedure for acceptance into the Chester County ARD Program if you qualify. In Chester County, it is possible to have your arrest and conviction expunged.
Battling DUI charges on your own could increase the likelihood that you will face DUI penalties to the fullest potential of the law.
A DUI arrest will show up in public records, affecting your future. Attorney Saadzoi can also help get your DUI arrest and conviction record expunged. If your record is sealed, potential employers, loan officers, landlords, and college admissions officers running background checks will be prevented from seeing your arrest/conviction.
Do Not Fight DUI Charges Alone. Call Attorney Saadzoi Today.
Speak With a DUI Attorney First.
Call Today for a Free Legal Case Evaluation
Contact PA DUI Attorney Saadzoi
610-566-5956
The Saadzoi Law – Chester County PA
600 Eagleview Blvd, Suite 300
Exton, PA 19341
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