When you are charged with a crime in McCandless Township, you may experience a wide range of emotions. If you feel the charge is not too serious, you might be annoyed. If you are facing a more consequential charge, you may be intimidated by the prospect of jail. If you have been falsely accused or believe you were targeted by the police, you are probably angry. All of these emotions can lead you to make rash decisions regarding your case and representation. It can cause you to listen to the wrong people or take friends and family’s misguided advice. Instead of moving forward yourself or relying on a busy public defender, you should work with experienced McCandless Township criminal defense attorneys from . We understand how difficult of time this is for you, which is why we fight to resolve your case fairly and quickly. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience in helping individuals just like you prove their innocence or minimize the consequences of a conviction.
If you facing criminal charges and are unsure of what to do next, call Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys at (412) 281-2146 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with a McCandless Township criminal defense attorney. We are ready to review your case and help you determine the best defense strategy available to you under the law. We have experience defending against both misdemeanor and felony charges.
Allegheny County DUI Law
If you are charged with your first DUI charge, you need to fully understand Pennsylvania law and the penalties you face if you are convicted. You can be arrested for a DUI if the police discover you were driving with a BAC at or above .08 percent, or you can be charged with a DUID if the police believe you were driving while impaired due to prescription medications or controlled substances. In either case, the police and courts will handle your situation much the same way.
For a first DUI charge with a BAC between .08 to .099 percent, you will be charged with the lowest tier in Pennsylvania’s three-tiered system. If you are convicted, you do not have to spend any time in prison. However, you will likely spend at least 6 months on probation, have to complete a treatment or education program, and pay a $300 fine.
If you are found to have a high BAC between .10 and .159 percent, then you will be charged with the middle tier. A BAC at the time of the arrest of .16 or higher results in the highest tier and harshest punishment. An extremely high BAC usually leads to a one-year driver’s license suspension, a $5,000 fine, and alcohol education or treatment.
Allegheny County ARD For First-Time DUI Offenders
When you are facing a DUI and you have never been in court for this or other offenses before, you be able to go through Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program. This is a diversion program, which if you complete, will allow you to avoid a criminal record by expunging the charge from your record.
During ARD, you may need to:
- Attend and complete alcohol highway safety school
- Submit to alcohol or drug screening
- Perform community service
- Pay restitution
- Go through a driver’s license suspension
- Pay fines
- Complete a probation period
Allegheny County DUID
Pennsylvania law takes driving under the influence of illegal drugs very seriously. If the police believe you are impaired due to drugs, you will be asked to take a blood or urine test. If there is evidence of drugs in your system from these tests, then you will be charged with the highest third tier, even for your first DUID offense.
If you are convicted of a DUID for the first time, you face:
- Up to six months in jail, with a minimum of three days in jail
- Up to a $5,000 fine, with a minimum of a $1,000 fine
- A one-year license suspension
- Alcohol highway safety school
- A court-ordered treatment program
Allegheny Country Criminal Traffic Violations
It is difficult to avoid getting some type of traffic ticket during your driving career. However, some traffic offenses are much more serious than others and can lead to harsh penalties. Criminal traffic violations that we have experience defending against include:
- Reckless driving
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Eluding or fleeing from the police
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving without a valid license
- Drag racing
- Aggravated assault with a vehicle
- Homicide by vehicle
While a speeding ticket can be resolved quickly and efficiently, these charges are more likely to result in major fines, jail time, license suspensions, and other penalties. If you are facing one of these charges or another criminal traffic offense, you need an experienced Pennsylvania criminal lawyer by your side. Without accurate legal counsel, you are less likely to be acquitted and more likely to be sentenced to the harshest punishments possible under the law.
Call a McCandless Township Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with a crime in McCandless Township, Pennsylvania, the best thing you can do is call Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys as soon as possible. No matter how these charges arose or where you are in your case, the experienced legal team of Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys is ready to help you achieve the best case scenario. We will analyze your case, investigate the situation, and build you the strongest defense possible.
Contact Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC at (412) 281-2146 or use our online form to schedule an initial consultation.
