[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/even-first-time-duis-can-result-serious-consequences\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/even-first-time-duis-can-result-serious-consequences\/","headline":"Consequences Of A First-Time DUI In Philadelphia","name":"Consequences Of A First-Time DUI In Philadelphia","description":"Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Pennsylvania, and the penalties associated with\u00a0DUI\u00a0have grown significantly harsher over the past few decades. Many people are under the mistaken impression that a first-time DUI conviction cannot result in anything more serious than a slap on...","datePublished":"2017-08-15","dateModified":"2025-09-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/#Person","name":"Brian Zeiger, LLC","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Zeiger Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","width":257,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dui-arrest-in-philadelphia.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dui-arrest-in-philadelphia.png","height":333,"width":500},"url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/even-first-time-duis-can-result-serious-consequences\/","about":["Driving Under The Influence"],"wordCount":614,"articleBody":"Drunk driving is a serious crime in the state of Pennsylvania, and the penalties associated with\u00a0DUI\u00a0have grown significantly harsher over the past few decades. Many people are under the mistaken impression that a first-time DUI conviction cannot result in anything more serious than a slap on the wrist and fines. In reality, a first-time DUI conviction has the potential to result in extremely serious legal consequences, including jail time, and may also cause collateral issues that may affect you for years to come.What are First-Time DUI Penalties in\u00a0PhiladelphiaThe penalties associated with a first-time DUI conviction on Pennsylvania depend upon you blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of your arrest. State law recognizes three levels of DUI \u2013 general impairment (BAC of .08 to .099), high BAC (.10 to .159), highest BAC (.16 and higher). The following table outlines the various penalties that can be imposed for a first offense at these\u00a0 BAC levels:General ImpairmentUp to 6 months of probation$300 fineAlcohol highway safety schoolTreatmentHigh BAC12-month license suspension30 days to 6 months in prisonA fine of $750 to $5,000Alcohol highway safety schoolTreatment1-year ignition interlock requirementHigh BAC18 Month License Suspension90 days to 5 years in prisonA fine of between $1,500 to $10,000Alcohol highway safety schoolTreatment1-year interlock deviceThe Collateral Consequences of a DUI Should Not Be IgnoredIt is easy for people accused of\u00a0DUI\u00a0to focus on the court-imposed consequences they are facing, as they are often the most immediate and clearly defined. It is important, however, to understand that a DUI can result in collateral consequences that in some cases may affect your life much more that any consequence imposed by the court. For example, the presence of a\u00a0DUI\u00a0conviction on your record may raise red flags when you are applying for a job or for an apartment. Similarly, certain academic institutions may think twice about admitting a student who has a history of alcohol-related incidents. In this way, a DUI conviction can affect your life and opportunities for years after any court-imposed sanctions have ended.There Are Often Ways a\u00a0Philadelphia DUI Attorney\u00a0Can HelpFortunately for people who have been arrested for drunk driving in Philadelphia, there are often ways that a DWI lawyer can help avoid the most serious of these consequences and, in some cases, and consequences at all. Some of the more common defenses that are raised in Pennsylvania DUI cases include the following:Challenging the legal justification for the initial traffic stopIntroducing evidence you have a health condition that can cause unreliably high breathalyzer resultsArguing that the officer who stopped you lack sufficient training to perform tests or determine that you were under the influenceEstablishing that you have a medical condition that can cause symptoms similar to those associated with alcohol intoxicationIf there are no defenses available, a lawyer can still be of assistance by negotiating a plea bargain arrangement in which you agree to plead guilty in return for the prosecutor recommending a lenient sentence. In addition, your attorney may be able to get you into Pennsylvania\u2019s\u00a0Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition\u00a0(ARD) program, which, if completed successfully, will result in the expungement of your DUI case and no conviction.Call a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Discuss Your OptionsIf you have been arrested on suspicion of\u00a0drunk driving in the Philadelphia area, you should contact attorney\u00a0Brian Zeiger\u00a0as soon as possible. In many cases, the representation of an attorney can help ensure that your case is resolved favorably and with minimal long-term consequences.\u00a0To schedule a consultation with Mr. Zeiger, call our office today at 215-546-0340 or\u00a0contact us\u00a0online. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Consequences Of A First-Time DUI In Philadelphia","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/even-first-time-duis-can-result-serious-consequences\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]