Pennsylvania has established three tiers of penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Your legal consequences depend on your blood alcohol content at the time of arrest and other factors. Review the penalties for Pennsylvania DUI if you...
Criminal Defense
What every driver should know about holiday DUI crackdowns
The way we celebrate the holidays can look quite different this year. However, one thing that remains the same is that police are especially focused on enforcing DUI laws in Pennsylvania this time of year. Knowing what their efforts entail and what rights you have can...
Protecting yourself after a ‘highway stop-and-frisk’
There are roughly 9 million licensed drivers in Pennsylvania; countless more drivers regularly travel through the state. Of these drivers, according to Pennsylvania State Police, nearly one million were stopped in 2019. Even though traffic stops are not uncommon, many...
What are the penalties for a first-time DUI?
Many holiday traditions involve gathering with loved ones -- though perhaps on a smaller scale this year -- and having a few drinks. Then, on your way home, you see flashing lights in your rear-view mirror. Before you know it, your blood alcohol registers as .08 and...
Test anxiety can even impact field sobriety test results
Field sobriety tests are the physical coordination exams that police subject drivers to when suspected of driving under the influence. You have likely seen them on TV or even experienced them yourself. The three standard tests used in Pennsylvania and elsewhere...
Factors that can make a DUI go from bad to worse
Drunk driving charges can affect anyone, from a teenager leaving a party to a grandparent struggling with addiction. No matter who you are, the consequences of a DUI conviction can take a tremendous toll financially, emotionally and legally. Addressing these charges...
Facing a courtroom trial? It may look different than you expect
Drug charges can affect anyone, from a group of teenagers accused of selling marijuana to a working mother charged with narcotics possession. And no matter who you are, drug charges and the criminal justice system can be very intimidating and confusing. For instance,...
Parents: What to know about Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
No parent wants to get that call informing them that their child is facing criminal charges. Parents can be angry, humiliated and terrified about what happens next. All these emotions are understandable. But it is important not to lose sight of the fact that a...
Your rights after an arrest
One sentence you can expect to hear in a TV show or movie featuring police is, “You have the right to remain silent.” You may even hear a character refer to this as “Miranda rights,” although you may be uncertain what that means. Far from being a catch phrase for...
How can a minor affect your college career?
When you first go to college, you get to experience a whole new freedom in your social life. You will decide how late to stay up, who to hang out with, where to go and what you will do. Like many students, you may choose to include alcohol in your activities. However,...