Being caught while driving under the influence can have severe negative consequences on your life. Depending on your blood alcohol content, you might even have to spend some time in jail. For this reason, you’ll need an excellent attorney local to the Harrisburg, PA area who can help you to minimize your penalties or perhaps even get the case dismissed. Let’s examine what questions to ask your DUI lawyer before you decide to hire them.

In Pennsylvania, the implied consent law states that you agree to a blood test when a police officer requests it, so getting convicted for driving under the influence is a reasonably common occurrence. There are several factors that affect the penalty you might face after your conviction. In particular, your blood alcohol content and whether you’re a first-time offender or not will affect the severity of your sentence.

At a minimum, people who are caught driving with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.08% will have to pay a $300 fine. They will also be on probation for six months and go through highway safety school, and sometimes, they might need to take part in drug and alcohol counseling. If this is your second or third offense and you’ve been caught with more than 0.16% BAC, you could go to jail for up to 5 years, and you will pay $1,500.

2.  What Are the Three Tiers of DUI?

Tier 2 is called a High Rate, with a BAC of 0.1% to 0.159%, while Tier 3 is Highest Rate at anything above 0.16%. If your BAC was at Tier 3, you face a harsh punishment that involves jail time, so you should always hire a highly skilled and experienced attorney to minimize the effect that this event has on your life. Your lawyer will be able to tell you more about the tiers and what penalty is likely in your situation. 

In addition to verbal and physical evidence you can provide, your lawyer will also look into the breathalyzer used and the relevant lab. Sometimes, the BAC tests are inaccurate, and a high number of false positives in recent lab tests could indicate that you were falsely convicted. This can further help to reduce your charges, or it might even be enough to get your case dismissed.

Many firms don’t have one simple billing structure in place, but instead, they will look at each client as an individual and determine what works best for the person. They might offer some people a retainer, while others are better served with fixed-price billing. It’s best to ask upfront so that there won’t be any negative surprises later on.

A DUI conviction can lead to serious punishments such as jail time, which can affect the rest of your life, both professionally and personally. That’s why you should do everything you can to fight for your rights and hire a highly competent lawyer. When thinking about what questions to ask your DUI lawyer, make sure you consider both the background of your attorney and case-specific issues.

Not only should you ask about your personal situation and what penalties you might face, but you should also find out whether the lawyer you’re speaking to is qualified to defend you. Their credentials and local Harrisburg, PA experience affect the likelihood of a good outcome for you. Get in touch with us at Jameson Stone in Camp Hill, PA to book your initial consultation with one of our expert DUI attorneys.