Over recent years, like many states, Pennsylvania has gradually strengthened its DUI law to increase the potential penalties for driving under the influence, and also lowered the minimum allowable blood alcohol level to make it easier for drivers to be considered “impaired”.
Potential penalties imposed for drunk driving depend partly on the blood alcohol level of the driver (“BAC”). The following chart shows the potential penalties associated with the BAC ranges for an impaired driver in the case of a first offense; note that subsequent offenses carry increased penalties:
| BAC Level | Penalties |
| 08% to less than .10% | Misdemeanor
6 mo. probation Fine $300 Alcohol dependency evaluation Alcohol highway safety school |
| .10% to less than .16% | Misdemeanor
Jail time 48 hrs. to 6 mo. Fine $500 to $5,000 12 months license suspension Alcohol dependency evaluation Alcohol highway safety school |
| .16% and above | Misdemeanor
Jail time 72 hrs. to 6 mo. Fine $1,000 to $5,000 12 months license suspension Alcohol dependency evaluation Alcohol highway safety school |
Accelerated rehabilitative disposition (“ARD”) can minimize some of these penalties if a driver is eligible and accepted into the program. In a future article we will explore the ARD alternative. For now, the moral of the story is simple — don’t drink and drive. If you are charged with DUI in Pennsylvania we can help; there are various defenses and options to reduce the impact of a DUI arrest. But be aware – the penalties for DUI are significant and the authorities are aggressive in their enforcement efforts.
– Kevin Palmer