DUI for BAC below .08%

Pittsburgh DUI Lawyer

As a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer, I get a lot of questions about different DUI scenarios. I received an inquiry the other day from a potential client who asked me if they could be charged with driving under the influence even if their BAC was below .08%. The answer to that question may surprise you.

PA has harsh DUI penalties

In a recent Men’s Health article, researchers found that Pittsburgh has some of the harshest DUI laws in the country. With the advent of such driving services as Uber and Lyft, Pittsburghers now have a far greater chance of avoiding DUI arrests, but the inception of these companies to our citizen base does not change the severity of the penalties if you are arrested for drunk driving.

Breathalyzer and blood tests

That means that many officers will attempt to pursue a DUI arrest on your behalf even if you haven’t registered a .08% or higher on a Breathalyzer or blood test. There are two ways to have a person convicted of driving under the influence. The first is simple: if your BAC is above .08%, then you’re going to be charged with DUI. The second is not so simple: there must be circumstantial proof that the suspect in question was driving under the influence. This can be much harder to prove. If a Breathalyzer or blood test shows that you are above the legal limit, then having a DUI attorney is important for ensuring that you receive the minimal sentence. If you were arrested for DUI due to circumstantial evidence, it is imperative that you hire a quality drunk driving defense lawyer who can help you prove otherwise to the court, and possibly have your sentence reduced to some other menial charge, such as reckless driving.

DUI Defense – Free Consultation – 412-219-6875

If you have any questions about drunk driving in Pittsburgh, or if you’ve been arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania, call Pittsburgh defense attorney Gary E. Gerson for a free case evaluation at 412-219-6875.