Drunk driving conviction for speeder clocking close to 150 mph

A Pennsylvania man has been convicted of several traffic offenses in connection with an alleged December 2013 drunk-driving accident. The Lancaster man was reportedly subject to the drunk driving conviction after a short, non-jury trial, during which he was found guilty of DUI, speeding, and reckless driving, among other things. Official reports indicate that the 23-year-old man was traveling at about nearly 150 miles per hour before he was pulled over by officers. The driver had attempted to prove that authorities in the case were not acting within the law when they required him to submit to sobriety testing during the traffic stop. The driver will serve a six-month probation term, will have to pay an undisclosed amount in fines, and will have to perform at least 50 hours of mandatory community service. The man will also be restricted from drinking during his probation and he must attend several highway safety classes. It appears that the young driver will avoid jail time in connection with the incident, which did not result in a car accident or another injurious event. Authorities say that the driver’s BAC at the time of his arrest measured at approximately .139%, which is significantly higher than Pennsylvania’s .08% legal limit. Arresting officers provided testimony indicating that other evidence pointed to intoxication; not only did the man smell like alcohol, but he also had difficulty when interacting with the officers. The man said he was speeding through the area because he was afraid of being ticketed for a broken headlight. An arrest for drunk driving does not necessarily mean that a defendant will serve time in jail. In this instance, the driver will only be required to serve a 180 days of probation and complete several other auxiliary tasks. A qualified drunk driving attorney like Gary Gerson can help Pennsylvanians facing DUI charges learn more about their legal rights and how to avoid time in jail.