If you are charged with drunk driving while traveling in Pennsylvania, there is a chance that your car will be towed and that you will spend several hours in jail. Ultimately, you may need to pay a fee to get your car out of an impound lot as well as potentially miss a day of work. However, there may be additional financial consequences of a DUI even if you aren’t convicted.
If you refuse a chemical test
You may lose your license for more than a year if you refuse to comply with the state’s implied consent law. When your license suspension ends, you will need to pay a fee to get your license back. It may also be necessary to have an ignition interlock device installed on your car at your expense.
If you’re convicted of DUI
Although there are many criminal defense strategies available, it doesn’t mean that they will work in your proceeding. A conviction might result in a fine in addition to paying court costs. You may also lose your job as the result of a DUI conviction, which could harm your ability to pay a fine or cover other costs associated with getting your license back. If you owe child support or back taxes, the lack of an income may result in additional penalties if you can’t stay current on those obligations.
In addition to financial penalties, a drunk driving conviction may also result in jail time as well as a license suspension or revocation. You may also face the prospect of losing a professional license. Casting doubt on evidence used against you in court may help you obtain an acquittal or a plea deal, which may help you avoid some or all potential sanctions.