DUI Defense Attorney for Temple Students
Driving under the influence is a crime that can seriously affect your personal life and your academic career. A DUI offense will follow you for years and affect your ability to secure employment and other opportunities. In terms of your academic career, you could lose scholarships and other privileges at your university. If you are a student at Temple University and you were arrested for driving under the influence, consult with an experienced DUI attorney in Philadelphia for Temple University students.
The Law Office of Lloyd Long can help you pursue a desirable outcome for your DUI case and any disciplinary proceedings instituted by Temple University. Our firm understands the uncertainty that can accompany a criminal proceeding, and we are here to help guide you through the process. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your case, contact The Law Office of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171, or contact us online.
Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Laws
A person commits a driving under the influence offense if they are arrested with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level that is over the legal limit of .08%. Under certain circumstances, a DUI arrest can still be justified if law enforcement observes a person driving erratically and discover that the person is under the legal BAC level. A person can also be arrested if they were driving while under the influence of drugs.
It is also important to note that a person can be arrested for driving under the influence even if the vehicle was not being operated. For example, falling asleep at the wheel of the car with the car keys in your possession is enough to show you had sufficient control over the vehicle to commit a DUI offense.
Temple University has a comprehensive student code of conduct that addresses a wide range of actions the university considers damaging to the university and the students who represent the university. Violating this code of conduct by committing a DUI will likely result in a disciplinary hearing. Temple permits students to have an advisor present to assist them during a hearing. The Law Office of Lloyd Long will work tirelessly to help you prepare for this hearing to protect your academic career.
The criminal penalties for DUI are divided into multiple categories. The circumstances of your case will determine the possible penalties if you are convicted of a DUI.
General Impairment Penalties
General impairment penalties refer to DUI offenses that occur when a person has a BAC level between .08 to .099%. If a defendant is convicted with a BAC level within this range and without any prior DUI offenses, the maximum penalties include up to six months of probation and a $300 criminal fine. A defendant may also be required to attend an alcohol driving safety program.
The maximum penalties for a conviction for a DUI with one prior DUI are six months in jail and a $2,500 fine. The defendant will also have their driver’s license suspended for one year and the requirement of an ignition interlock device once their driving privilege is restored. An ignition interlock checks a person’s BAC level before they can turn on their vehicle. Trying to circumvent this system by asking another person to use the device can result in criminal penalties for the owner of the vehicle and whoever helped them.
If a defendant has two or more DUI offenses on their record and they are convicted for another, they can serve up to two years in prison and $5,000 criminal fines.
High BAC Level Penalties
Being convicted of having a BAC level of .10 to .159% triggers the higher BAC penalties. The lowest penalties under this category would be six months in prison and $5,000 fine if a defendant did not have any prior DUIs. Like the general impairment penalties, a defendant may have to participate in alcohol highway safety school and will likely have their license suspended.
The most severe penalties in this category are triggered when a person has three or more prior DUI offenses. If a defendant is convicted with this many DUI offenses, they may serve up to five years in prison and owe a $10,000 fine.
The highest BAC penalties (.16% and higher) will result in many of the same penalties for having a BAC level of .10 to .159%. Depending on the defendant’s criminal history, the defendant could be offered alternatives to serving time in jail. For those who are charged with their second DUI in PA, the penalties may be much harsher.
Work with Our Temple University DUI Defense Lawyer Today
If you were arrested for driving under the influence, you should contact an experienced Philadelphia DUI and lewdness defense lawyer for Temple students today. DUI defense lawyer Lloyd Long has over a decade of legal experience handling various types of DUI cases, and he is prepared to use this experience to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact The Law Office of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171.
