DUI Related Offenses

Driving under the influence is an incredibly severe charge that often brings along a variety of additional offenses. When an impaired motorist gets into a collision, causes physical harm, ruins property, or tries to escape the accident site, the legal consequences of the DUI multiply drastically. The specific charges a driver must confront will vary based on the unique facts of the incident, and the strictness of the punishments will climb as the number of violations grows. Frequently, secondary charges connected to a DUI arrest include hit and run, attempting to elude law enforcement, public intoxication, and violations of the implied consent law.

Public Intoxication

Within Pennsylvania, it is illegal to appear in a public setting while displaying obvious signs of alcohol drunkenness or chemical substance influence in a manner that creates a hazard to yourself or the people around you. If you find yourself dealing with this accusation, an experienced Mercer DUI attorney can help clarify the charges. Public intoxication is typically identified by the following behaviors:

• Annoying the individuals near you
• Endangering your own well-being
• Endangering the safety of others

According to state statutes, a public place refers to any location that the general community can access. This includes privately owned properties that are open to visitors, like the shared areas of an apartment building or a gated community. If you create a scene in such a location, you might be arrested for public intoxication. A reliable Mercer criminal lawyer will remind you that this crime is considered a summary offense within the state and carries a potential penalty of up to $500. For any subsequent violations, the financial penalties can be significantly steeper.

Hit and Run

When someone realizes they have just caused a vehicular crash after consuming alcohol or drugs, their brain often fixates on the impending threat of going to jail. These terrifying thoughts occasionally push people to flee the scene, hoping to avoid legal repercussions. This decision, known as a hit and run, ultimately leads to much more severe penalties. Judges and prosecutors in Mercer County do not take this violation lightly. It is wise to contact a Mercer DUI attorney immediately if you find yourself in this complex situation.

Whether a hit and run is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony relies entirely on the specific elements of the crash. Regardless of the classification, the consequences are harsh. If the collision only resulted in property damage, the motorist can be charged with a third-degree misdemeanor, carrying a maximum sentence of one year behind bars and a fine of up to $2,500. If an experienced Mercer criminal lawyer evaluates your case, they will note that if the accident harms another person, the charge instantly upgrades to a third-degree felony. This severe offense brings up to seven years of incarceration and fines reaching $1,000.

In the most devastating incidents where the accident causes a fatality and the driver escapes, it escalates to a highly penalized felony. A conviction here can lead to a lengthy prison term of up to seven years and fines climbing to $2,500.

Fleeing the Police

Seeing flashing emergency lights and hearing blaring sirens behind your vehicle after causing an accident is terrifying. Panic sets in, and some individuals attempt to drive away, particularly if they fear a drugged or drunk driving arrest. However, escaping an accident site and leading officers on a high-speed pursuit will inevitably result in charges for fleeing the police. A Mercer DUI attorney knows that law enforcement and the courts view this as an extremely serious crime.

Failing to stop when signaled by an officer—whether by voice, hand gesture, or emergency lights and sirens—can result in an eluding charge. Usually, fleeing the police is a second-degree misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of two years in jail and up to $2,000 in fines. If the pursuit crosses state borders, endangers the public, or involves driving under the influence, it becomes a third-degree felony. A knowledgeable Mercer criminal lawyer can explain that the penalty then jumps to a maximum of seven years in prison and a baseline fine of $15,000. Additionally, this conviction triggers an automatic driver’s license suspension.

Implied Consent Law

Pennsylvania’s Implied Consent Law requires anyone holding a driver’s license to submit to chemical, breath, blood, or urine testing when an officer asks. While field sobriety tests can be refused, chemical tests cannot. However, prosecutors must prove that the officer explicitly warned the driver about the penalties for refusing. Failure to provide this warning can stop the prosecution from pushing the charge. Otherwise, refusing the test leads to an 18-month suspension of your license.

Contact Logue Law Group

If you are dealing with any of these overwhelming charges, it is vital to hire proper legal representation. Sean Logue and his team at Logue Law Group possess the vast expertise required to handle your case effectively. They will relentlessly challenge the prosecution to secure the best possible outcome. Contact them for a complimentary consultation at 412.387.6901 or reach out online. Logue Law Group provides dedicated defense and unwavering support for clients across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.