Driving under the influence (DUI), the legal term most commonly used to describe the offense of drunk driving, has been attributed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of causing 15,387 of the 41,059 deaths by automobile accidents occurring  in 2007. The figure represents 37 percent of the total fatal traffic accidents throughout the United States.

The NHTSA says, “A motor vehicle crash is considered to be alcohol-related if at least one driver  involved in the crash is determined to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 gram per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Thus, any fatality that occurs in an alcohol-related crash is considered an alcohol-related fatality.” In 2007, in the state of Pennsylvania, there were 556 deaths attributed to alcohol which represented 36% of the total that were considered traffic-related fatalities. Non-fatal DUI caused accident statistics are even more startling than the fatality statistics, and they include numerous disabling injuries that have occurred all across our land including places like Harrisburg, Lebanon, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

It is true what some say, it does not pay to drink and drive. With these startling statistics, is there any wonder states are cracking down on the people who drive while drinking? Across the nation, depending on the severity of the traffic violation and including the consideration of a fatality, convictions for drinking and driving can be considered a misdemeanor or a felony, and they can bring a multitude of harsh punishments. With a conviction, a person’s record could permanently brand him or her as a life time criminal. The record is often made public to employers and insurance companies.

Traffic laws have been made to protect the innocent because there usually is an innocent party in most traffic accidents. So, if you are facing a DUI related accident in Pennsylvania and have been hurt, disabled, or had a fatality of one of your family members as a result, and you feel like you are the innocent party involved, these types of accidents are too serious and complicated for the average layman to handle by themselves. You may need a legal professional to help advise you on what to do and how to protect yourself. Contact us and we will help you find an attorney in the area where you live that can help you face your DUI charge..

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It is illegal in most states for minors to be partaking of alcohol, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and to drive while doing so puts them in double jeopardy. Yet, teenagers are doing so at alarming regularity. Some studies show that 70 percent of teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. So, why do teenagers drink and then drive?

The answer varies, but I am sure the reason why most teenagers drink and then drive has not really changed all that much since I was a teenager some 45 years ago.

We all have to get from one place to the next, and socializing is in our nature. Before you consider drinking and driving in Pennsylvania, please know that regardless of whether or not you are a teenager, a first time DUI conviction can cost you up to six months probation, six months in prison, up to a $5000 fine, and up to a year of your driver’s license suspended.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager that has recently been accused of a DUI in places like Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, Pennsylvania, you are probably going to need professional help. Contact us right now at www.duiattorneyhome.com , and we will help you find the professional in your area who is not only understanding of the laws affecting teenage drunk driving, but they remember and understand what it was like when they were a teenager. They were once young, but they grew up, and now, they want to help you.

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No matter the season, there is always plenty to do in the City of Brotherly Love.  From giving the Liberty Bell a ring to indulging your curiosity about which Philly eatery has the best cheesesteak, you can fill your days and nights with fun here.  But if you wash your gastronomical indulgences down with alcohol and then get behind the wheel, you won’t be feeling the love at all.

Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Pennsylvania.  This crime is constantly under the scrutiny of legislators throughout the country who are determined to reduce its occurrence.  To that end, law enforcement agencies have been steadily increasing patrols and checkpoints and the penalties associated with a DUI conviction are becoming more and more severe each year.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving offense in the Philadelphia area, the worst thing you can do is doubt the gravity of the situation you are in. The process of defending yourself in a case like this is complicated and time-consuming.  The laws and procedures involved in a DUI case are guaranteed to leave a layperson confused and overwhelmed.  But there is help.

The first step to getting your life back in order is to contact an experienced DUI attorney.  You should select a legal professional who specializes in cases just like yours to ensure that they have the most up-to-date knowledge on the rapidly changing landscape of DUI law.

In the state of Pennsylvania, drunk driving crimes are referred to as “driving under the influence” (DUI) or “driving after imbibing” (DAI).  The legal limit for intoxication in Pennsylvania is a blood alcohol concentration of .08%.

At the time of your arrest, the officer requested that you complete a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) by providing a breath or blood sample.  If you refused to submit to this test, your license was automatically suspended for 12 months.  You may be able to appeal this suspension, but you will need to act quickly.

If you are convicted of the DUI charge, you may lose your license as well.  In this case, the suspension will last for a period of up to 18 months.  You will also face additional penalties.  These penalties will differ depending on the level of your BAC at the time of your arrest.  Your level of intoxication will be classified in one of three categories:  General Impairment for a BAC between .08 and .99%, High BAC for concentrations of between .10 and .159%, and Highest BAC for levels of .16% and greater.

Extenuating circumstances can also push you into a higher class of offense.  Examples of these conditions include being a minor driver, driving a commercial vehicle, and a BAC that includes a controlled substance.  Penalties range from fines to jail time.

All of the penalties associated with a DUI conviction will have a serious impact on your life and that of your family.  The risks in these cases are too great.  This is not a situation you want to handle alone.  Contact a qualified DUI lawyer today to walk you through this difficult time.

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