How to Defend Your DUI Arrest in Pennsylvania
Getting convicted for DUI in Pennsylvania will cost you a lot of time and money. Not only do you face jail time, fines and loss of driving privileges, you also have to pay higher rates for car insurance, and you may even lose your job if getting to and from work without a license prevents you from being on time. Additionally, your ability to travel to foreign countries will be restricted as some countries, including Canada, view any DUI as a barrier to entry unless you meet certain conditions.
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Instructions
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Defending Against A DUI in Pennsylvania
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Contact a DUI attorney. Choosing the correct attorney can make all the difference. An experienced DUI attorney will know who to talk to at the prosecutor's office to get copies of any evidence against you as quickly as possible. He will also know the best approach to take with the prosecutor to try to get the case dismissed, or reduced to a lesser charge.
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Take notes. Write down every detail you can remember about the 24 hours immediately before your arrest. Small details that may seem irrelevant to you may be critical to a defense attorney preparing the case. Absolute honesty about what you drank, where and when, and what you remember about your driving will help the defense attorney evaluate the best approach for your case. Include receipts, witness names, and anything else you have to establish the truth of your testimony.
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Listen to your attorney. Some cases do not fare well in front of a judge or jury at trial. In those cases, it may serve your interests best to plead guilty or no contest to reduced charges. No one wants a conviction, but your attorney can give you advice about what course of action is ultimately in your best interest.
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Look and act professionally in court. If your case does go to court, dress neatly. The judge and/or jury will notice how you come across and it can make a difference in the case. Only speak when it is appropriate, and do not let your emotions show. If you must communicate with your lawyer during trial, write a note so you don't distract her from the testimony.
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Be honest. If you testify, do not embellish the truth to try to make yourself look better. If you get caught in even one exaggeration or lie, it can raise an inference in the jurors' minds that nothing you say is entirely true. Discuss with your attorney before the trial starts whether honest testimony about your case will help you or hurt you. If you can not testify with complete honesty, you should not take the stand.
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Tips & Warnings
The best way to avoid a DUI is to not drink and drive in the first place.
If you are arrested for DUI, do not refuse to provide a chemical test of your breath or blood. Pennsylvania's implied consent law requires you to provide a sample and provides for a one year loss of license and a presumption of guilt of DUI if you refuse.
References
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