Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Repeat DUI Arrest Lawyer
Pennsylvania drunk driving laws are harsh on repeat offenders. If you are arrested for drunk driving and have a prior DUI conviction on your record, you could face strict penalties, including mandatory jail time, if you are convicted.
Talk to an Attorney Immediately After a Repeat DUI Arrest
As a former Montgomery County prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, I understand what the stakes are following a repeat DUI arrest. At the Law Office of Henry S. Hilles, III, I provide tough DUI defense to clients facing misdemeanor or felony DUI charges in PA.
Pennsylvania has tightened its law on drunk driving. A DUI conviction can haunt you years after you were arrested and convicted. Penalties increase with each repeat DUI offense. Under previous DUI laws in Pennsylvania, there was a "look-back period" of seven years. However, the "look-back period" is now 10 years — meaning any DUI conviction in the previous 10 years will be considered in determining the charges against you and the resulting penalties if you are convicted. In short, if convicted for a repeat DUI, you will face mandatory minimum jail time, mandatory license suspension, fines and other DUI consequences.
Second Offense (DUI/Drunk Driving)
|
Blood Alcohol Content
|
0.08 - .099%
|
0.10 - .159%
|
0.16% and above
|
|
Minimum Sentence
|
5 days
|
30 days
|
90 days
|
|
Maximum Sentence
|
6 months
|
6 months
|
5 years
|
|
License Suspension
|
12 months
|
12 months
|
12 months
|
Third Offense (DUI/Drunk Driving)
|
Blood Alcohol Content
|
0.08 - .099%
|
0.10 - .159%
|
0.16% and above
|
|
Minimum Sentence
|
10 days
|
90 days
|
1 year
|
|
Maximum Sentence
|
2 years
|
5 years
|
5 years
|
|
License Suspension
|
12 months
|
18 months
|
18 months
|
Fourth and Subsequent Offense (DUI/Drunk Driving)
|
Blood Alcohol Content
|
0.08 - .099%
|
0.10 - .159%
|
0.16% and above
|
|
Minimum Sentence
|
10 days
|
1 year
|
1 year
|
|
Maximum Sentence
|
2 years
|
5 years
|
5 years
|
|
License Suspension
|
12 months
|
18 months
|
18 months
|
Ignition Interlock Required Following a Repeat DUI Arrest
If you are convicted for a repeat DUI offense (regardless of whether it was your second offense or subsequent offense), you will be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in each vehicle you own or regularly operate. Pennsylvania law requires that the device be installed for at least one year (following your license suspension period) prior to applying for an unrestricted driver's license.
Non-compliance with mandatory ignition interlock rules — tampering with the device, removing or disabling the device, operating a vehicle that does not have the device installed or other violations — can result in additional charges and enhanced penalties.
Protect Your Rights After a Repeat DUI Arrest
When you are facing the potential penalties associated with a repeat DUI, it is important to hire a defense lawyer who not only understands the law: it is critical to hire an attorney who will dedicate the time and resources to fight the case aggressively. From analyzing the initial cause for the traffic stop to examining the validity of the blood alcohol concentration testing equipment, I comb through the evidence and prepare the strongest defense possible on your behalf.
Contact me in Montgomery County, PA, to discuss your case and how I can protect your rights after a repeat DUI arrest in Pennsylvania.