What Are the DUI Laws in Allentown, PA?
Every state has DUI laws which regulate how individuals who are charged with drunk driving will be penalized. In Allentown, PA, there are three basic levels of Driving under the Influence, which are general impairment, high impairment, and highest impairment.
General impairment is when a person is caught with a BAC of .08%-.09%. High impairment is when a person has a BAC of 0.10%-0.159%, and highest impairment is when a person has a BAC of .16% or higher. Naturally, the more severely intoxicated a person is the more severe consequences they will have to pay after they are arrested.
Will anything other than high BAC levels increase my penalties?
A person can be forced to face more severe penalties if any of the following apply to them:
- They are commercial drivers
- They were driving a school vehicle such as a school bus
- They caused an accident and other individuals were injured
- They caused property damage while DUI
- They refused to give a breath test when the police officer pulled them over
- They are repeat offenders
The basic penalties for committing a DUI offense include having one’s license suspended, doing community hours, paying fines, and even doing jail time.
How long will my license be suspended for?
According to Pennsylvania driving laws, a person may not have their driver’s license suspended if their case meets certain conditions. However, they will generally have their license suspended for 12-18 months. A person can contact a DUI lawyer in Allentown, PA to help them file the required paperwork in order to have their license suspension reduced.
The general license suspension laws are as follows:
- Having a BAC of less than 0.10%- license may not be suspended if it is a first offense or it may be suspended for up to 12 months
- Having a BAC of 0.10%-0.159%- 12-month license suspension or 18-month license suspension if it is a third offense
- Having a BAC of 0.16% or more- 12-month license suspension or 18-month license suspension if it is a second offense
A person can apply to have their suspension time reduced through the help of a legal professional.
Can I be exempted from any of my DUI penalties?
There are actually quite a few exemptions available for individuals who are being charged with DUI.
Individuals can apply for a financial hardship exemption which will allow them to not have to install an ignition interlock device in all of their vehicles, and they will only have to get it installed in one. They can also apply for an employment exemption which will allow them to operate their employer’s vehicles for work purposes only without having an ignition interlock device installed.
It is important to note that if anyone is caught driving a vehicle with a tampered or altered ignition interlock device they will have their regular license suspended for an even longer time. Anyone who has been charged with DUI should call a lawyer who specializes in dealing with drunk-driving cases so they can start applying for their driving freedom again.