Scranton, PA- If law enforcement in Pennsylvania pulls you over and suspects you have been drinking, they are going to ask you to participate in field sobriety tests. It’s at this time that some motorists ask themselves: Should I agree to sobriety tests? Should I do a breath test or give blood for a chemical test?
At USAttorneys, we have noticed there is confusion about whether it is a good idea to refuse sobriety tests. On one hand, some motorists believe that it’s better to refuse a field sobriety test than be convicted of a DUI. But others believe it is better to participate in sobriety tests and fight the DUI charge with the help of DUI defense lawyer down the road. Either one has consequences you need to be aware of before you make a bad decision.
Refusing to participate in field sobriety tests may seem like the easy way out of a DUI, but it isn’t, and the consequences for refusal are just as severe as the penalties associated with a DUI conviction. Refusing any sobriety tests, whether it’s a physical coordination test or a breathalyzer, is a violation of the state’s implied consent laws. Such laws exist to keep all drivers from refusing sobriety tests.
In Pennsylvania, if you refuse sobriety tests, you will lose your license for one year. A DUI conviction, by contrast, has no minimum jail requirements and no license suspension periods, but there are other consequences like a record of your conviction.
On the side of the road, you have to make a calculated decision and it’s a decision no one can help you make. Under some circumstances, it is better to be charged with refusing sobriety tests than to be accused of a DUI. For instance, if you have a very high blood alcohol concentration, you may be better off with an implied consent violate than with a DUI charge.
At the time of your arrest, you are on your own to decide if it’s better
to refuse a breathalyzer or take the DUI charge. No matter what you choose at the moment, you need to contact a DUI lawyer in Scranton, Pennsylvania to work on your defense. They can build a strong case on your behalf and give you a better chance of avoiding conviction. You have more to lose than you realize.
Let USAttorneys connect you with a DUI defense lawyer in Scranton. You can set up a case evaluation, and our team of defense lawyers will help you decide on the most effectual defense strategy. Their goal is to mitigate some of the troubling penalties associated with your DUI arrest and see that you avoid conviction. If you live in Lackawanna County or the city of Scranton, we can help you set up a case evaluation with a dedicated criminal defense attorney.
