A driving under the influence (DUI) charge in Leola, Lancaster County, can significantly impact your life. Criminal penalties for DUI convictions can include a prison sentence, license suspension, and hefty fines. However, a conviction can also impact your life in other ways. It can make finding and holding a job, seeking higher education, and securing housing harder.
If prosecutors in Leola charged you with a DUI, contact Chieppor & Egner for a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney. We’ll review your case, help you understand the charges and penalties you’re facing, and go over the defenses that may be available.
Pennsylvania has five different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits that can impact the charges and penalties you face after a DUI arrest. These BAC limits are:
Underage and School Bus Drivers – 0.02%
Commercial Drivers – 0.04%
General Impairment – 0.08 – 0.099%
High Rate of Alcohol – 0.10 – 0.159%
Highest Rate of Alcohol – 0.16%
Underage drivers and school bus drivers can face DUI charges if their BAC is as low as 0.02%. Commercial drivers can also face DUI charges with a BAC of 0.04% and may lose their commercial driver’s license (CDL). For all other drivers, the standard BAC limit is 0.08%, with higher rates of alcohol leading to more severe penalties.
Understanding the BAC limit prosecutors are charging you with exceeding is crucial for your defense. Your attorney may be able to show that your BAC level wasn’t high enough to meet the threshold prosecutors are charging you with. Or your BAC level may make you ineligible for certain defenses and diversion programs.
The criminal penalties you could face if convicted of a DUI offense you were arrested for in Leola depend on both your BAC level and your number of prior offenses. All convictions require installing an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle for at least one year and completing an alcohol highway safety program. Additional penalties you could face include:
General Impairment
First Offense – Up to six months of probation and a $300 fine.
Second Offense – Between five days and six months in jail, a fine of between $300 and $2,500, and a one-year license suspension.
Third or Higher Offense – Between ten days and two years in prison, a fine of between $500 and $5,000, and a one-year license suspension.
High Rate of Alcohol
First Offense – Between two days and six months in prison, a fine of between $500 and $5,000, and a one-year license suspension.
Second Offense – Between 30 days and six months in prison, a fine of between $750 and $5,000, and a one-year license suspension.
Third Offense – Between 90 days and five years in prison, a fine of between $1,500 and $10,000, and an 18-month license suspension.
Fourth or Higher Offense – Between one and five years in prison, a fine of between $1,500 and $10,000, and an 18-month license suspension.
Highest Rate of Alcohol
Your attorney can make use of various defenses to beat or reduce the charges you’re facing. Some of these defenses include:
Illegal Traffic Stop – The police officers may not have had a valid reason to conduct the traffic stop.
Improperly Administered Field Sobriety Tests – The police officers may not have administered the field sobriety tests correctly, leading to skewed results.
Disputed Field Sobriety Test Results – Prosecutors may have come to an incorrect conclusion based on field sobriety test footage.
Rising BAC – BAC levels can increase over time, so the chemical test may be invalid if the officers administered it more than two hours after the arrest.
Chemical Test Calibration Issues – Your attorney may argue that the equipment used for testing your BAC wasn’t calibrated correctly.
Medical Conditions – You may have a medical condition that leads to false positives on chemical tests or makes it difficult to complete field sobriety tests.
Chain of Custody Issues – There may be issues with the chain of custody of evidence, including the chemical test results.
An experienced DUI defense lawyer can assist you in various ways, including:
Investigating the Incident – They will investigate the incident to determine if the stop was legal and if the police followed all the proper procedures.
Disputing the Prosecution’s Evidence – They will dispute evidence brought by the prosecution to have it barred from court.
Negotiating a Plea Agreement – They may be able to negotiate a favorable plea agreement that reduces the charges or penalties you’re facing.
Petitioning for a Diversion Program – They can petition for you to enter a diversion program instead of serving a jail or prison sentence.
Representing You in Court -They will represent you in court and defend you against the charges brought by prosecutors.
If you’re facing DUI charges in Leola, Pennsylvania, you need a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer who can protect your rights. Contact Chieppor & Egner for a free consultation with a member of our legal team. We’ll review your case, explain your defense options, and begin working to secure a favorable outcome.
Follow the directions below to reach our Lancaster office at 53 N. Duke Street, Suite 401:
From the North:
Take US-222 S towards Lancaster.
Merge onto PA-272 S / Oregon Pike via Exit 41 toward Lancaster.
Continue on PA-272 S / Oregon Pike for about 3 miles.
Turn right onto E Liberty St.
After about 0.5 miles, turn left onto N Duke St.
Continue on N Duke St for 0.4 miles. The destination will be on your right.
From the South:
Take US-222 N towards Lancaster.
Merge onto PA-741 W / Millersville Rd via Exit 32.
Continue on PA-741 W for about 3 miles.
Turn right onto PA-462 E / Columbia Ave.
Continue for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto N Queen St.
After 0.6 miles, turn right onto E Orange St.
Turn left onto N Duke St. The destination will be on your left.
From the East:
Take US-30 W towards Lancaster.
Take the exit toward PA-23 / New Holland Pike.
Turn left onto PA-23 W / New Holland Pike and continue for 3 miles.
Turn left onto N Duke St.
Continue on N Duke St for 0.6 miles. The destination will be on your right.
From the West:
Take US-30 E towards Lancaster.
Take the exit for PA-462 / W King St.
Merge onto PA-462 E / Columbia Ave.
Continue on PA-462 E for 3.5 miles.
Turn left onto N Queen St.
After 0.6 miles, turn right onto E Orange St.
Turn left onto N Duke St. The destination will be on your left.
