Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney Finn Skovdal
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Law Offices of 
Finn L. Skovdal, Esq.
Free Consultation 
(215) 608-9363

Experienced Trial Attorney & Former Prosecutor
​Fighting For Your Rights
Schedule a Free Consultation

Pennsylvania DUI Attorney

Arrested or Charged with a Crime? call (215) 608-9363
In Pennsylvania, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a serious offense that has numerous consequences. Even a first offense can result in fines, license suspension and jail time. 

What is a DUI?

DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Controlled Substance. To be found guilty of a DUI, prosecutors must prove that you were in operation of a vehicle and consumed enough alcohol or drugs that made you incapable of safely operating that vehicle. 

In order to initiate an arrest for DUI, police must have probable cause that you are incapable to operate a vehicle due to drugs or alcohol. to accomplish this, police look for certain indicators of intoxication such as:
  • slurred speech
  • glassy eyes
  • poor balance
  • odor of an alcoholic on your breath
  • poor driving
if the police determine there is probable cause for an arrest, they typically request that you submit to a blood draw or a breath test. Refusing this test may result in additional license suspension. 
DUI 
Defenses 

Pennsylvania DUI Penalties

Pennsylvania DUI charges and penalties are based on tiers of blood alcohol content (BAC) and the amount of prior DUI convictions an individual has. 
  • Tier I - General Impairment and BAC of .08 - .099 
  • Tier II - High Rate BAC (.10 - .159)
  • Tier III - Highest Rate BAC (.16 & above) and Drug DUI
DUI Penalties in Pennsylvania are notoriously tough. Depending on your tier and prior offenses, you could be facing a mandatory minimum of 1 year in state prison if convicted. 

Defenses to DUI in Pennsylvania

Being arrested of DUI does not automatically mean a conviction or jail time. It is important to speak with an experienced DUI attorney immediately to understand your rights and prepare a trial strategy. 
Some common defenses to DUI include:
  • Did the police have reasonable suspicion to conduct a traffic stop?
  • Did the police have probable cause to make a DUI arrest?
  • was your blood tested properly?
  • Were you actually in physical control of a vehicle?
  • were you operating a vehicle on a public roadway?

    


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Areas of Defense 
  • ARD Program
  • First DUI Offense
  • Second DUI Offense
  • Third Or Subsequent DUI Offenses
  • DUI Penalties
  • Marijuana DUIs
  • Other Drug DUIs
  • License Suspension
  • Ignition Interlock

Why Choose Our Firm?

As a former prosecutor with over a decade of criminal trial experience, Attorney Finn L. Skovdal has handled hundreds of DUI cases ranging from simple to complex. 

Contact Us
​

For a Free Consultation

    Phone Number and Description of Case
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Montgomery County​
500 Office Center Drive
Suite 400
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(215) 608-9363
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  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Criminal Defense
    • DUI Defense
    • Traffic Violations
  • Attorney
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Call Now - (215) 608-9363