Is driving under the influence of drugs more serious than driving under the influence of alcohol in Delaware County?

In Delaware County, PA, an arrest for drugged driving DUI is more serious than a typical drunk driving DUI. This is because a drugged driving DUI charge falls into a higher "tier" than that of the ordinary drunk driving charge. There are enhanced penalties associated with this type of charge, and these enhanced penalties can have a major negative effect on your finances and your freedom. 

Experienced Delaware County DUI attorneys with LLF Law Firm are highly experienced in the area of criminal defense and is here to answer your questions, as well as represent you in your criminal case. You have the right to defend yourself. Do not assume you will be found guilty.

Delaware County DUI Defense Attorney

With more than a decade of experience working in various roles in the Pennsylvania justice system, LLF Law Firm has qualified Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys with a comprehensive knowledge of how a criminal case operates from start to finish, and beyond.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Delaware County and need a comprehensive, customized defense, contact the attorneys at LLF Law Firm. They have built their practice on the ideals of customer service and justice and he will fight for your rights and freedom. Call (888) 535-3686 today to schedule your free consultation and discover what LLF Law Firm can do to clear your name.

Drugged Driving vs. Drunk Driving in Delaware County

One of the first major differences between a drunk driving charge and a drugged driving charge is the matter of "metabolites" in your blood. If a certain level of these metabolites of illegal drugs exists in your blood at the time of your arrest, you will be considered "pro se" intoxicated. This means you will be assumed to have been under the influence of the drugs at the time of the arrest, without any other proof that you were, in fact, intoxicated.

Penalty Differences: Drugged vs. Drunk Driving

The primary difference between drugged and drunk driving has to do with how severe the sentences will be. Under Pennsylvania law, there are three "tiers" of penalties for DUI. A normal first time drunk driving DUI with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below 0.10% will be in the first tier, subject to the following penalties:

  • Maximum of 6 months probation
  • $300 fine maximum
  • Alcohol highway safety school
  • Drug or alcohol treatment (if ordered)

Drugged driving charges are automatically placed within the third tier. This is true even when it is a first-time offense for a DUI. As a result, a first time drugged DUI carries enhanced penalties, as follows:

• 72 hours to 6 months in jail
• Minimum $1,000 fine to a maximum of $5,000
• Driver's license suspension of 1 year
• Alcohol highway safety school completion
• Drug & Alcohol assessment and defendant must comply with all alcohol and drug treatment requirements

A Delaware County, PA Defense Attorney At Your Side

When you face DUI charges in Delaware County you deserve to have your rights protected. LLF Law Firm are an experienced criminal defense team who will protect your rights. If you are facing criminal charges, contact us today at 888-535-3686.

Contact Us Today!

The LLF Law Firm Team has decades of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the LLF Law Firm today! Our Criminal Defense Team will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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