Is a DUI Hotel an Option for Me?
DUI hotels have grown in popularity in Pittsburgh due to their relative comfort—compared with living behind bars—and due to their shortened treatment program length—compared with weeklong treatment programs in jail. But barriers to entry prevent everyone from taking part in a DUI hotel. These include cost, location, type of DUI offense, and whether or not an individual is open to receiving drug and alcohol treatment.
In order to be eligible to participate in a DUI hotel, your offense and sentence needs to meet certain criteria. You may qualify if you were charged in Allegheny County, if you’re facing a first-time DUI offense, and if you’re eligible for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.
7 Ways to Qualify for a DUI Hotel
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First-time offense — In order to be eligible for a DUI hotel, you must be facing your first DUI offense. Multiple-DUI offenders cannot take part in a DUI hotel.
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Charged within Allegheny County — While other counties may soon offer DUI hotels, only Allegheny County currently offers DUI hotels as an option to first-time DUI offenders. Your case must be handled in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, in order for you to be eligible for a DUI hotel.
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No injuries — If you were involved in a DUI accident, no one must have been seriously injured in the crash. If a person was injured, your may face a harsher sentence which could make you ineligible to participate in a DUI hotel.
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No one under 14 years of age — If you were arrested for a DUI when a person under the age of 14 years of age was in your vehicle, your sentence may make you ineligible for a DUI hotel.
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Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) eligible — To qualify for a DUI hotel, you must be ARD eligible. While the criteria for the ARD program are strict, eligibility generally means that an offender is a first-time offender who is not likely to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol again. To find out if you meet all ARD requirements, consult with a Pittsburgh DUI attorney.
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Open to treatment — In order to take part in a DUI hotel, you must be open to receiving drug or alcohol treatment. This can involve chemical testing, substance use evaluations, counseling, and therapy.
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Pay $500 — The greatest barrier to participation in a DUI hotel is cost. For those who are able to pay the $500 minimum fee, participation may be possible.
How Our Experienced Pittsburgh DUI Lawyers Can Help You
Need help for your Pennsylvania DUI? To find out whether a DUI hotel is an option for you, contact one of our experienced Pittsburgh DUI lawyers at Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys. We have experience helping clients who are facing all types of DUI charges. Depending on the particularities of your case, you may be eligible to take part in Allegheny’s DUI hotel program. For a free, initial consultation, call one of our skilled Pittsburgh DUI lawyers at (412) 281-2146 today.