Motion to Suppress in Pittsburgh

When you’re pulled over by a police officer in Pennsylvania, the stop must be legal. If it isn’t, your attorney may be able to use this to get the charges against you dismissed. Often, a lawyer will question the police about whether they had the legal right to stop someone for DUI charges in Pennsylvania. A traffic stop is considered a “seizure” under Pennsylvania Case Law and the 4th and 14th Amendments. This means the police officer must meet specific legal standards before stopping you.

An unlawful stop can sometimes result in the complete dismissal of all charges against an individual. This could happen in your case as well. If you are facing a Pennsylvania DUI case that started with what you believe was an unlawful stop in Allegheny County, a Pittsburgh DUI lawyer can help you work towards having your charges dismissed. For this legal support, you can contact us at Logue Law Group.

Why Was the Vehicle Stopped?

For an officer to stop a vehicle, they must have a “reasonable suspicion” of unlawful activity. This means they need to be able to explain clear reasons why they believed something illegal was happening. A court will be the ultimate judge of whether this standard was met, considering all the circumstances of the situation.

It’s important to remember that if an officer witnesses a traffic violation, the stop is generally considered justified. However, if there is no criminal suspicion or observable illegal activity, pulling your vehicle over may be deemed illegal in Pennsylvania. A skilled Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can evaluate the details of your traffic stop.

Relevance to an Pennsylvania DUI Case

You should connect with a lawyer to analyze and assess why the officer instructed you to pull over. If, after a thorough review, your legal counsel identifies potential issues with the stop’s legality, they can file a Motion to Suppress. This motion formally questions the lawfulness of the stop. Your Pittsburgh criminal lawyer will also scrutinize the administration of any standardized field sobriety tests to ensure they were conducted in full compliance with the National Highway Safety Administration Manual. This examination is crucial in determining whether the State had sufficient grounds to order your arrest.

Your lawyer will aggressively question the police officer to establish if the stop was based on a mere hunch rather than observation of unlawful activity. Pennsylvania courts do not consider a hunch as a justifiable reason to stop a motor vehicle. A Pittsburgh DUI lawyer understands these nuances and can argue them effectively on your behalf.

Furthermore, a lawyer can also challenge chemical tests—whether breath, blood, or urine—if they were not performed in strict compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health Guidelines or the Pennsylvania Administrative Code.

Contact us

The Logue Law Group is prepared to help you navigate your case. Our legal team will listen to your side of the story and explore every available avenue to pursue your case aggressively. Our goal is to help you get your charges dismissed or have the penalties reduced as much as possible. For more information and to discuss your situation, contact us at 412-387-6901 for a consultation today.