When you’re facing a drunk driving charge, jail time is one of the first things on your mind. While jail is a possibility in a drunk driving case, there are a lot of different factors that play into whether you get jail time for a drunk driving offense. There are also things that you can do to impact whether you go to jail for DUI in Pennsylvania. Our criminal defense attorneys at Applebaum & Associates explain:
Yes, you may go to jail for DUI in PA. However, not all DUI cases result in jail in Pennsylvania. For first-time offenders with a low bodily alcohol content at the time of the DUI, jail time is uncommon. There are things that you can do in order to impact whether you go to jail for DUI in PA. In most cases, whether you go to jail for DUI in PA depends on your prior criminal history and your bodily alcohol content at the time of the offense.
DUIs and jail time in Pennsylvania
The State of Pennsylvania uses a complex system in order to determine whether you receive jail time for a DUI. The two primary factors are whether you have any prior DUI convictions and your bodily alcohol content at the time of the DUI. For first-time offenders with a bodily alcohol content below .1%, probation, substance abuse treatment, a fine and traffic safety school are the only possible penalties. However, if your bodily alcohol content is a .1% or above, or if you have a prior drunk driving conviction, jail time becomes a possibility.
How to minimize jail time for a Pennsylvania DUI
Even if you face the possibility of jail time in a Pennsylvania DUI, the judge still has discretion in sentencing. You shouldn’t assume that you’re automatically going to get the worst. In fact, there are steps that you can take in order to minimize your jail time. Be sure to comply with all of the terms of your bond or bail. Begin substance abuse treatment and take it seriously. In addition, you should have a job or volunteer in the community at the time of your sentencing. Gathering support letters from friends and family can also help minimize jail time for a Pennsylvania DUI.
How a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney can help you minimize DUI jail time
If you’re charged with drunk driving, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you minimize your jail time. An experienced lawyer knows when to take a case to trial and when to negotiate a resolution. They know how to negotiate with minimizing jail time in mind. In addition, an experienced attorney knows what steps you need to take before and during your sentencing in order to impress the judge and make a convincing case for the least amount of jail time possible.
Call our Pennsylvania DUI attorneys
Are you facing DUI charges? Do you need to minimize or avoid jail time? Call our Pennsylvania DUI criminal defense attorneys for an immediate and free consultation about your case.
