A Lancaster County driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the 0.08% legal limit can be charged with DUI in the state of Pennsylvania. Law enforcement officers who suspect you of DUI will verify whether you are impaired by conducting field sobriety tests and a blood or breath test that measures your BAC.
If you are ultimately convicted of DUI, you face potentially severe penalties, which may include a permanent stain on your criminal record, a suspension of your driver’s license, payment of fines, and even incarceration.
Beyond these legal consequences, however, a DWI conviction can result in the loss of your job, the suspension or loss of your professional licensure, and a consequent loss of income for your family. Given these potentially devastating consequences, you must enlist the assistance of a Lancaster County DUI lawyer who will provide you with a staunch defense.
The Pennsylvania DUI Law Offices of Steven E. Kellis understand what’s at stake for you in a DUI case. We are dedicated to aggressively representing your interests to work toward your preferred outcome, whether to get the charges dismissed, pursue a deferral option, or minimize the potential consequences of a conviction.
Lancaster County DUI Accidents
Under Pennsylvania DUI law, an offender involved in a DUI accident can face enhancement, meaning that they can be charged at a higher tier, resulting in much stricter penalties, including mandatory jail time.
Unfortunately, the way the law is written, the accident does not even have to be your fault; the fact that you were involved in a motor vehicle accident while impaired allows you to be charged at a higher tier.
Suppose you are involved in a DUI-related automobile accident in Lancaster County. In that case, you may face serious felony and misdemeanor charges, the penalties for which can include up to 10 years in prison. Contact a Lancaster County DUI lawyer immediately to help avoid some of the harshest punishments.
Lancaster County Underage DUI Lawyer
Underage DUIs are serious business. It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve had to drink throughout the night. Some people make every effort to control their drinking but still get behind the wheel when their blood alcohol content (BAC) is too high.
For drivers of legal drinking age, the consequences of a DUI are dire enough. But for people under the age of 21 who receive a DUI, the consequences can be pretty shocking.
If convicted of an underage DUI in Lancaster County, a person may face the following consequences:
- Steep increases in car insurance premiums or outright termination of their policies
- Additional charges surrounding the DUI charge
- Possible permanent black mark on their criminal record
- Up to 90 days in jail (or even six months in jail for two or more DUIs)
- Fines ranging from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars
- Suspension of their driver’s license
What’s worse is that it’s much easier for prosecutors to get a DUI conviction when the incident involves an underage driver than it is with drivers who are legally able to drink.
Convictions are easier to reach because the BAC requirements to charge underage drivers with DUIs are much lower. Underage drivers only need to have a BAC of .02% to be convicted of a DUI, while drivers of legal drinking age (21+) must have four times as much alcohol per volume in their system (.08% or higher) to be convicted of a DUI.
Experience Counts
Mr. Kellis served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney and DUI prosecutor for five years, an experience that gives him a unique insight into defending DWI cases. Additionally, Mr. Kellis has the following qualifications:
- Over 25 years of jury trial experience
- National certification in field sobriety testing
- Extensive experience with blood and breath testing procedures and results
With this quality of experience in DUI law, Mr. Kellis can offer you the kind of representation you need when facing the potentially severe consequences of a conviction. As a seasoned Lancaster County DUI attorney, Mr. Kellis knows your case’s laws, procedures, and requirements. He can analyze your situation, evaluate the evidence against you, and build an individually designed strategy to achieve the most favorable outcome.
Dedication Matters
At The Law Offices of Steven E. Kellis, we pride ourselves on dedicating all our efforts to defending Lancaster County clients against DWI charges and other related impaired driving offenses. Rather than practicing in various legal areas, we have concentrated on DUI and associated laws to serve our clients better.
Our focus on DUI law has allowed us to amass a tremendous amount of experience in this area and continue to gain additional knowledge as laws and procedures change over time. With years of experience, you can rest assured that we will explore every available option in your case.
Cities we serve in Lancaster County
Request a FREE Consultation Now
Contact us today to schedule your free and personal consultation with Pennsylvania DUI attorney Steven E. Kellis. We are here to listen to your story, assess the evidence, answer your questions, and work toward an efficient and favorable resolution of your case. Call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.