Pennsylvania Man Charged with 20th Suspended License Violation

April 10, 2011

Pennsylvania Man Charged with 20th Suspended License Violation

Early in the morning on March 11, 2011 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, police pulled over a man for an equipment violation on his vehicle. After running his license, police learned the driver had 19 prior convictions for driving with a suspended license and 8 convictions of driving with a DUI-suspended license. In Pennsylvania and many other states, your license will be suspended after a repeat DUI or if you have a particularly high blood alcohol content (BAC).

The man was charged with driving with a suspended license for the 20th time and faces up to 90 days in jail and $5,000 in fines. His license has already been suspended until 2034.

Penalties Increase for Repeat DUI Convictions

Suspended licenses are only some of the severe penalties for a DUI. Pennsylvania has among the strictest sentences in the nation for DUI offenders. If your BAC is .08 to .099, and it is your first offense, you can expect a fine of $300 dollars, a six month probation and alcohol highway safety school. This is the lightest sentence you can get, and does not apply if your BAC is over .10.

If you get even one more DUI within 10 years of your first DUI, penalties increase dramatically.

For a 2nd offense, Pennsylvania law requires:
-A fine between $300 and $2,500
-Imprisonment for up to six months and no less than five days

For a 3rd offense:
-A fine between $500 and $5,000
-Imprisonment for up to 2 years and no less than 10 days

With any repeat DUI conviction you will also have your license suspended, an interlock device put into your car and mandatory drug and alcohol treatment -- with all of the costs paid by you.

High BAC Also Increases Sentencing

Pennsylvania penalizes DUI offenders according to the level of intoxication, even for a first-time DUI offender. Pennsylvania considers BAC of .10 to .159 to be high, and carries stricter penalties. For example, with a BAC of .10 and no prior DUI convictions, your license will be suspended for a full year, in addition to jail time and court fines.

The highest BAC category is .16 or higher and sentencing again increases with prior DUI convictions. For example, if it is your third offense and your BAC is over .16, you could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, and your license will be suspended for 18 months.

If you have been charged with a DUI, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area.

Article provided by The Law Office of Henry S. Hilles, III
Visit us at http://www.hilleslaw.com