What Happens on a DUI 2nd Offense in Pennsylvania?

If a citizen is on their 2^nd offense for DUI in Pennsylvania, then they will have very strict penalties to face. Judges don’t let up on these type of offenders, ones who put the lives of everyone on the road in jeopardy each time they get behind the wheel intoxicated. How drunk the person is determines their punishment, meaning the higher their blood alcohol content, the bigger the penalty. There is one penalty that they will always have to face, no matter what the BAC is, and that is them having to attend a mandatory school for alcohol safety.

A week to six months in jail is the sentence for those who had a BAC of .08% to .099% on a Pennsylvania 2^nd offense DUI. This jail time can vary from other factors as well, such as the way the person acted when the police picked them up, additional charges that may have been tacked on during the arrest, and the offenders overall attitude about the situation. They will need to make the best impression on the judge as possible, being that their fines could possibly go all the way up to $2,500. With a good criminal defense lawyer, they could get closer to the minimum of $300.

If the persons BAC is between .10% and .159%, they may receive anywhere from a 30 to 180 days in jail. In addition to sentencing, they could receive up to about 150 hours of community service. The offender could also possibly have to use an ignition lock device for 12 months. These are devices that are installed into the person’s car and require them to blow into the breathalyzer before they can crank up and pull off. It is safer for everyone out on the busy highways when the offender is knowingly sober behind the wheel.

A BAC of .16% or more is just absurd and irresponsible behavior in the eyes of most judges. And, they have no problem giving out the highest of penalties for these offenders, which can be up to five years in prison. The minimum they could receive is 3 months, and it takes a good criminal defense attorney to assist them in getting the least amount of time. Their lawyer will advise them to do all they can after the offense to reflect good rehabilitative intentions, such as suggesting to their client to get treatment whether it is ordered or not after a DUI 2^nd offense in Pennsylvania.