DUI Charges In Pennsylvania Do Not Always Stick

Many Pennsylvania residents think that, if they are charged with a DUI, fines and potential prison time are sure to follow. While DUI charges do carry the risk of fines and imprisonment, such penalties are (fortunately) not guaranteed. That is because DUI charges are won or lost in Pennsylvania court.

Of course, it helps to have a great DUI attorney on your side like the Jacob Wyland. It also helps to follow some of the important tips below. The outcome of a DUI trial in Pennsylvania can affect the rest of your life.

Your DUI Charge May Be Dropped If You Were Stopped At An Illegal DUI Checkpoint

Good news for Pennsylvania drivers: a DUI charge may be dropped if you were stopped at an illegal DUI checkpoint. There is a common misconception in Pennsylvania that all DUI checkpoints are legal. This is not the case. Here in Pennsylvania, there are certain standards and regulations that all DUI checkpoints must follow.

If you can prove that these standards and regulations were broken, your DUI charge will likely be dropped. If you were charged with a DUI after being stopped at a DUI checkpoint, contact a lawyer at the Wyland Law Group. We will examine your case and determine if proper procedure was followed at the DUI checkpoint. If it wasn’t, we will fight to have your charges dismissed.

Your Pennsylvania DUI Charge May Be Dropped If The Traffic Stop Was Illegal

As with DUI checkpoints, there are certain rules and regulations that law enforcement officers must follow during DUI traffic stops in Pennsylvania. For the stop to be legal, the officer must have reasonable suspicion that you were doing something illegal (such as driving drunk).

If there was no cause for such suspicion, your Wyland Law Group attorney will move to have the evidence suppressed. This is another way to beat a DUI charge in Pennsylvania. 

Your Pennsylvania DUI Charged Could Be Dropped If The Paperwork Was Not Done Correctly

Your arresting officer must also follow certain rules and regulations when filing the police report. Discrepancies and/or misleading statements in the police report can seriously compromise the prosecution’s case–so much so that it is worth having an experienced attorney from the Wyland Law Group examine the police report.

We will also examine video evidence to see if proper procedure was followed during your arrest. If there is video evidence that proper procedure was not followed, we may be able to get your DUI charges dropped. 

Having Your Pennsylvania DUI Charges Reduced

Even if there is no chance of having your Pennsylvania DUI charges dropped completely, you may still be able to have the charges reduced, especially if this is your first DUI offense. Having your charges reduced is the next best thing to having them dropped. A lawyer at the Wyland Law Group can advise you on how to have your DUI charges reduced.

A reduction in DUI charges means that your penalties will be much lighter. For instance, you may be able to avoid the crippling license suspension that often accompanies DUI convictions in Pennsylvania.

One way to have your DUI charges reduced in Pennsylvania is to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. This helpful program is available for first-time DUI offenders in Pennsylvania. The program allows you to avoid a trial, and a permanent criminal record provided that you complete probation and a rehabilitation program.

Another option for having your DUI charges reduced is to plead guilty to reckless driving. Prosecutors will often accept this plea bargain, as it means they will not have to go through the process of a DUI trial. Reckless driving carries a lighter sentence than DUI.

You can also plead guilty to a traffic infraction. While a traffic infraction carries a fine and potential license suspension, it will not leave a permanent mark on your record here in Pennsylvania.

Finally, your DUI attorney can also fight to reduce the level of your blood alcohol content (BAC) that you were found to have in your system at the time of your arrest. Because Pennsylvania has a three-tiered system of DUI penalties based on BAC, a reduced BAC means reduced penalties.

Appealing Your DUI Conviction

Let’s say that you were not able to have your DUI charges dropped or reduced–where do you go from here? It may be worthwhile to appeal your DUI conviction in Pennsylvania. A DUI defense lawyer from the Wyland Law Group can advise you on the appeals process. You may be surprised to find out that you have a strong case for an appeal of your DUI conviction. Even if you don’t, it may be possible for the Wyland Law Group to have your DUI sentence reduced. 

Why Call The Wyland Law Group

The Wyland Law Group has successfully defended countless DUI cases in the Pittsburgh area. We have helped DUI defendants get their charges dropped, get their charges reduced, successfully appeal their DUI conviction, and reduce their sentence for a DUI conviction. We have experienced attorneys who will make your DUI case their number one priority. We will also guide you through every step of your DUI trial, if it gets to that point. We have the top DUI lawyers in the Pittsburgh area. 

The Best Way To Beat A DUI Charge In Pennsylvania

Perhaps it goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: the best way to beat a DUI charge in Pennsylvania is to not get charged in the first place. DUI is preventable and prevention starts with you. If you are planning on going out for a night on the town here in the Pittsburgh area, find alternate modes of transportation, such as a taxi or designated driver.

If you do find yourself in the unfortunate position of being charged with a DUI, your best bet is to call a Wyland Law Group attorney at (412) 710-0013. We will fight for your rights in Pennsylvania DUI court.