DUI DEFENSE - Defending Your Case
Based on my experience as a former police officer, my team of attorneys has a unique understanding of what you have experienced if you have been arrested for driving after imbibing alcohol or utilizing drugs in Pennsylvania (which is more commonly known as driving under the influence, or simply DUI). We realize that for many people arrested for DUI, this is their first and only encounter with the criminal justice system. If you are reading this, you probably realize that this is not a very pleasant encounter.
After the police stopped you and suspected that you were drinking, you may have been asked to participate in field sobriety tests. Field sobriety tests are a series of physical agility exercises given on the side of the roadway that many sober people cannot successfully complete. You were then probably taken to a police station or a hospital, where you had to quickly decide whether to submit to a breath or blood test without consulting an attorney, a decision that has far-reaching consequences. You were most likely scared and confused when you made this decision. What you probably did not know at the time is that by obtaining a driver's license in Pennsylvania, you already agreed to provide a breath or blood sample to a law enforcement officer if requested to do so. This is known as Pennsylvania's "implied consent" law and it is difficult to understand under the best of circumstances, let alone while sitting in a police station under arrest for DUI.
You will soon face a preliminary hearing, and may eventually have to stand trial. You will need to make important decisions about whether to plead guilty or not guilty. These decisions will affect your life, your liberty, your ability to remain a licensed driver in Pennsylvania, and your wallet.
There are a number of potential penalties for DUI convictions. These are determined according to many factors, and a DUI conviction may result in a criminal record, jail time, and suspension or revocation of your operating privileges. You will also be subject to fines, mandatory alcohol education programs, potentially higher insurance rates and possibly even an ignition interlock device, which is a breathalyzer device affixed to your car뭩 ignition that requires you to provide a breath sample in order to start your car. Unfortunately, you will also have to face your family and maybe even your employer with the reality of your arrest, and depending on the nature of your work, you may even lose your job.
As bad as the potential penalties of a DUI conviction may seem, many first-time DUI offenders are eligible for a program known as the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, or ARD Probation. This period of probation allows a person's record to be expunged and the DUI charges dismissed if the person successfully completes the program, which may include serving a short drivers?license suspension, attending an alcohol education program, receiving substance abuse counseling and other administrative requirements.
Many of our clients tell us that the police officer that arrested them was very courteous and many officers even try to provide helpful information about how a DUI case might proceed; however, make no mistake, the police officer's job is not only to arrest you for DUI, it is also to ensure that you are convicted of the charges. You may choose to represent yourself; however, if you've been arrested for DUI, it is vital that you contact an experienced Pittsburgh DUI attorney to help you understand the difficult choices you will need to make. You need someone on your side fighting for your rights. The prosecutor and the police officer are not on your side and their job is to obtain a conviction, no matter how friendly and courteous they may seem. At the Law Offices of Gerald B. McNamara, we will provide you the representation that you need to obtain the best outcome of your case.
We believe that anybody can trip and fall. The measure of who you are is how you pick yourself back up. When you talk to us after being charged with a DUI, you will not feel judged. We do not see any client as a criminal. We know that many people arrested for DUI are upstanding community members who are well-educated and professional. They have families that they cherish. They are very good at their careers. What we do is help people get back on their feet after one of the worst days of their lives.
If you have been pulled over for driving under the influence, no matter what your blood alcohol content or breath test may have shown, there is an aggressive defense to help you fight for the best possible outcome for your charges. Please contact us today at 412-429-4360, via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through the contact page of this website to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your options.
