What sentence am I facing for a Pennsylvania DUI?

Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Pennsylvania DUI Convictions

A person convicted of Driving Under the Influence in Pennsylvania faces severe mandatory minimum penalties, including jail time, fines, license suspensions, treatment programs and classes, and installation of iginition interlock devices. Mandatory means that a judge is not permitted to impose a less severe sentence. People often hope that they can appear before a judge and ask for leniency, but the judge has no power to reduce a mandatory sentence. The judge may not want to suspend a person’s license or may want to allow the person to drive to and from work, but the judge cannot do so.

An experienced Pennsylvania DUI attorney may be able to fight the charges or negotiate a resolution with the prosecutor to change the DUI charge, and the change in charge can result in a change in the mandatory sentence. The attorney may be able to obtain a sentence of in-home detention to avoid jail time, and the attorney can discuss licensing options such as the Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL).  For a free consulation with a State College DUI attorney, contact JD Law at (814) 689-9139 or via email.

Three Tiers or Levels of Penalties

The sentences for convictions of DUI in Pennsylvania are generally separated into three levels of penalties that are based upon the blood alcohol level or if drugs are involved.  Drug-DUIs are placed in the highest level of penalties. Mandatory minimum sentences are also impacted by the number of “prior offenses” of DUI the person has had within the past 10 years of the date of the current DUI offense.