A public intoxication conviction can directly affect your future, making it an excellent reason to take the matter seriously from the start. The social consequences alone can prove dire. One of the most important early moves you can make is consulting with an experienced Lancaster intoxication defense lawyer at Chieppor & Egner.
To be charged with public intoxication in Pennsylvania, you must be visibly under the influence. This means that the police are not required to prove your intoxication with a test but can, instead, rely on circumstantial evidence, such as the following:
In addition, you must be in a public place for the charge to apply. This means any area the public generally has access to, such as sidewalks, public transportation, restaurants, bars, and parks. Further, you must have caused a disturbance, created a hazard, or either urinated or vomited in public.
The state must prove each of these elements before you can be convicted of public intoxication. Turn to an accomplished public intoxication attorney to help you bring your strongest defense.
Public intoxication in Pennsylvania is categorized as a summary offense, which is a level below misdemeanor. These charges are crimes, and a conviction will go on your record. A first offense carries fines of up to $500, which increases to $1,000 for a subsequent offense, and up to 90 days in jail.
A conviction for public intoxication will stay on your record for at least five years. If you have not been convicted of another crime and you have no criminal charges pending at the five-year mark, the charge against you should be automatically sealed. This means that potential employers or landlords will not be able to access information about the charge, but it will not be completely removed from your record. To have the charge removed from your record, you would need to have it expunged, which is a more strenuous legal process.
As a first-time offender, you may qualify for an alternative resolution. This is likely to require an alcohol-education course, counseling, community service, or any combination of these. The benefits include keeping the charge off your record and avoiding jail time.
Having a criminal conviction on your record, including public intoxication, can lead to serious social consequences that can negatively affect all the following:
If you have been charged with public intoxication, you face serious legal and social consequences. A reputable Lancaster public intoxication lawyer at Chieppor & Egner will leave no stone unturned in their determined efforts to obtain an optimal case outcome on your behalf. We care about you and your case, so please don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting us online or by calling our firm at 717-393-1400 to schedule a free consultation today.
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