Pittsburgh First-Time DUI Offense Lawyer
For most people, being arrested and charged with DUI or Driving Under the Influence is their first involvement with the criminal justice system. The experience can be frightening and stressful. If you have recently been arrested and charged with a first offense DUI, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Gary E. Gerson as soon as possible.At the Law Offices of Gary E. Gerson, we handle first offense DUI cases for clients in the Pittsburgh area and throughout western Pennsylvania. Our attorney, Gary E. Gerson, has more than 25 years of experience in the criminal courts of western Pennsylvania and our entire firm is committed to utilizing the legal and ethical means necessary to obtain the best possible results for every client.
Penalties for First Time DUI in Pennsylvania
Penalties for conviction in a first offense DUI case, especially in those with a low BAC result, are not as potentially life-changing as other criminal charges, but are severe nonetheless. Possible resolutions include the dismissal of charges, negotiated outcomes involving reduced charges, mandatory minimum sentencing, alternatives to jail such as home detention or alternative housing with work release, or diversion programs such as Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), whereby eligibility for and successful completion of the program may result in the avoidance of the more serious expense and consequences associated with a DUI conviction, a dismissal of charges and expungement of all criminal records of the proceeding. The terms and conditions for acceptance in ARD may include:
- a Court Reporting Network (CRN) evaluation of alcohol consumption and lifestyle
- completion of Alcohol Highway Safety School
- a period of probation
- community service
- payment of restitution
- payment of fines, surcharges, fees and other court costs
- a suspension of driving privilege of not more than 60 days for an adult, or 90 days for a juvenile
How to get ARD for first time DUI?
ARD is a probationary program for first time offenders of non-violent crimes, of which a first DUI may be eligible. If an ARD applicant has a previous DUI conviction or was an ARD or other diversion program participant within the previous 10 years, he or she will not be eligible for ARD. Moreover, there are various enumerated disqualifying circumstances to acceptance in ARD, such as having children under the age of 12 in the vehicle, or involvement in motor vehicle collision resulting in serious injuries to victims. In other words, not every first time DUI offender will be eligible for ARD. Our Pittsburgh DUI Lawyer will explain these requirements and help you to understand what your legal options and rights are.
Free Initial Consultation
For a lawyer who knows how to seek the best possible solution to your DUI legal problems, contact our Pittsburgh law firm, The Law Offices of Gary E. Gerson. Let me fight for you! Call the criminal defense Law Offices of Gary E. Gerson at 412-219-6875.
