DUI expert in Allentown

Under ⁠Pennsylvania law⁠, you can’t be found guilty of a DUI unless you were in “actual physical control” of the vehicle. If the police are claiming you were driving, that is “actual physical control.” For more information visit our ⁠website⁠.

 Driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal charge in Pennsylvania.  It can—sometimes, but not always—lead to incarceration.  If you’ve ever seen the billboards that say “DUI—you can’t afford it” –this is true.  DUI cases are expensive—not only in lawyer fees but in all the other fees from the court, probation and fines. For more information visit our ⁠website⁠.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal charge in Pennsylvania.  It can—sometimes, but not always—lead to incarceration.

When someone is pulled over for a suspected DUI, the police are usually drawn to the person’s attention because of a traffic violation—for example, speeding, driving too slow for traffic, erratically crossing lines or weaving in a lane, etc. Certainly, police target certain individuals and at certain times of day—in my opinion, a police officer observing a traffic violation of a 20-year-old man driving alone at 2:00 a.m. will likely view that person differently than the same traffic violation being committed by an 80-year-old woman at 4:00 in the afternoon.

Over the course of many years in the criminal courts, I’ve occasionally come across people who’ve gotten in trouble with the police and courts and have a military service background. The root causes can vary—PTSD, depression, anxiety and other legitimate mental health diagnoses can arise from military service and sometimes rear their ugly heads long after service is over. In addition, many vets suffer from addiction issues, which then often spill over into criminal court in the form of DUI cases, domestic violence, drug possession, trespassing and transiency. I’ve never served in the military, but deeply appreciate the brave persons that do. My grandfather was a lieutenant colonel and a pilot, and died during a mission in Korea when his plane was shot down. Out of respect for what vets of all stripes have gone through, I offer services in criminal courts at a deep discount. If you are a vet with a general, medical or honorable discharge, I will help you through the court system at a much reduced rate, generally half of what I would typically charge for a case. Just call me to talk about it.

If you are charged with a crime in the Lehigh Valley, then you need to get a criminal defense attorney.  The first question you face is where to seek an attorney.  You can ask family and friends, look online, do some research.  The most important thing, however, is to hire a criminal defense attorney who practices law in the area where your case is pending.  If you make the mistake of hiring an attorney from elsewhere, you will end up regretting it.

While you may not be seeking to have a trial in your own case, the way to get the best deal is by hiring an attorney with experience in trials, because he or she will have a reputation for not shying away from a difficult case, and hopefully, a reputation for winning. This is what makes prosecutors offer you a better deal.  When you are considering which attorney to hire, ask him or her how many jury trials he or she has had, and how many were won. If the attorney backs away from the questions or tries to confuse you, take this as a sign that the attorney has little experience (and maybe none!) in doing a jury trial. This means that most likely, the deal offered to you won’t be very generous, because your attorney is not known to ever fight cases.

Under Pennsylvania law, robbery and burglary are higher felonies, whereas, theft is usually a misdemeanor, unless it is a lot of money taken or a high value item like a car that is stolen. Very often people say “my house got robbed,” when they really mean burglarized. Or they will say there was a theft from the cash register—if the thief broke in, it’s a burglary, plus a theft, and if there was a threat or violence at all involved, it’s also a robbery. If you are charged with any of these, you should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney, to understand what qualifies and does not qualify as a crime.  

When someone is pulled over for a suspected DUI, the police are usually drawn to the person’s attention because of a traffic violation—for example, speeding, driving too slow for traffic, erratically crossing lines or weaving in a lane, etc. Certainly, police target certain individuals and at certain times of day—in my opinion, a police officer observing a traffic violation of a 20-year-old man driving alone at 2:00 a.m. will likely view that person differently than the same traffic violation being committed by an 80-year-old woman at 4:00 in the afternoon.

If you are charged with a crime in the Lehigh Valley, then you need to get a criminal defense attorney.  The first question you face is where to seek an attorney.  You can ask family and friends, look online, do some research.  The most important thing, however, is to hire a criminal defense attorney who practices law in the area where your case is pending.  If you make the mistake of hiring an attorney from elsewhere, you will end up regretting it. 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1990 that sobriety checkpoints are constitutional and are not illegal searches and seizures in violation of the 4th Amendment.   The reasoning was that the public’s interest outweighs the minor and temporary intrusion.  However, the Supreme Court declared that the primary purpose of the sobriety checkpoint cannot be to detect evidence of crimes or to arrest drunk drivers, but only intended to safeguard the public by preventing drunk driving. Because of this, sobriety checkpoints are classified as serving a regulatory purpose rather than a criminal purpose.

Changes were made to the law on ignition interlocks in 2017.  One of the big changes is that now most convicted, first-time DUI offenders are required to install an ignition interlock system in their vehicles. Another big change is that now many DUI offenders can regain their driving privileges without serving their full license suspension through the issuance of an ignition interlock limited license.

Being charged with a DUI/DWI in Pennsylvania can be devastating.  Many people don’t envision themselves as criminals, and then, one day, they use bad judgement and wind up in criminal court with a DUI.  If you are, you’ll be prosecuted under the Vehicle Code (Title 35) in Pa, in whichever county the incident occurred in.   If you are charged with a DUI and you think it’s a “done deal,” think again.  There is almost always room for negotiation any many options available if you choose the right DUI attorney on your side very early in the case.

Over the course of many years in the criminal courts, I’ve occasionally come across people who’ve gotten in trouble with the police and courts and have a military service background.  Read the full podcast to know more.

9 Things You Need To Know About DUI in PA A DUI or driving under the influence of alcohol can come with some serious outcomes. You can lose your license and can be slapped with those expensive fines. Even worse, you can be put behind the bars. In this article, we walk through the key things to know about DUI in Pennsylvania. 1. Understand the Basics of the DUI Process 2. Jail Sentences 3. An Attorney is Important 4. Court Appearance 5. The Suspension of License 6. The Provision of a Limited License 7. Penalties 8. The setting of Case Before Trial 9. Increased Insurance Rates

7 Reasons To Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney in Allentown, PA Why should you hire a local criminal defense attorney? 1. They are familiar with the Ins and Outs of the Judicial System 2. They Know the Prosecuting Attorneys Well 3. They are Experienced in Handling Cases Similar to Yours Before 4. They Protect Your Constitutional Right 5. They Provide You Emotional Support 6. They Protect Your Future 7. They Help You Save Money The Conclusion: If you have a criminal case in Lehigh County, you should only be hiring a criminal defense attorney located in Lehigh County.  If you retain someone from elsewhere, you will be hurting yourself beyond what you even recognize or understand.  If you have a criminal case in Northampton County, you should only be hiring a criminal defense attorney in Northampton County.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal charge in Pennsylvania.  It can—sometimes, but not always—lead to incarceration.  If you’ve ever seen the billboards that say “DUI—you can’t afford it” –this is true.  DUI cases are expensive—not only in lawyer fees but in all the other fees from the court, probation and fines.  And if you had an accident, there are costs associated with restitution, higher insurance, and many other costs.