First-Time Offender in Montgomery County

Pennsylvania's laws against driving under the influence (DUI) can easily be broken by people who have no intent on breaking the law. Therefore, it is no surprise that many Pennsylvanians have faced charges for a first-offense DUI. If that allegation comes from an arrest that happened in Montgomery County, though, there are some unique aspects of your case that you should understand.

Penalties for First-Time DUI Offenders in Pennsylvania

Typically, people who are convicted for a first-time DUI offense in Pennsylvania face the following scheme of penalties, depending on their blood alcohol content (BAC) and age at the time of the arrest:

Circumstances

Sentence

Fines

License Suspension                 

Other Penalties

DUI charges for underage drivers with BAC over 0.02%

Between 2 days and 6 months in jail

$500 - $5,000

1 year

Alcohol safety school                 

BAC under 0.10%

6 months of probation                 

$300

None, if you are eligible for ARD

Alcohol safety school                 

BAC from 0.10% to 0.16%

Between 2 days and 6 months in jail

$500 - $5,000

1 year

Alcohol safety school                 

BAC over 0.16%

Between 3 days and 6 months in jail

$1,000 - $5,000

1 year

Alcohol safety school                 

Diversion Program in Montgomery County

However, first-time DUI offenders in Montgomery County can make use of the county's diversion program, the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.

Montgomery County's ARD program is aimed to divert first-time offenders of non-violent crimes, including DUI, from the state's overloaded court system. By filing the necessary paperwork within 30 days of your preliminary hearing for the DUI charge and by waiving that hearing and arraignment, you can apply for acceptance into the ARD system.

If you get accepted into the ARD program in Montgomery County, you will be put on probation and the DUI charged against you will be stayed. The charges will be dismissed if you successfully complete the program's requirements, including:

  • Community service
  • Payment of the program costs and probation fees
  • Abide by the terms of your probation

In addition to your charges being dismissed, a successful completion of Montgomery County's ARD program also expunges your criminal record, wiping it clean of the charge.

However, if you fail the program in any way – no matter how trivial or accidental – the DUI charge will resume and you will have to defend yourself in court.

Montgomery County DUI-Defense Team

Deciding whether to defend against a DUI charge or try to make it through Montgomery County's ARD program can be a huge decision. Doing it without the guidance of a DUI-defense team like our Criminal Law Team at LLF Law Firm is to make it blindly. Our experience defending drunk driving cases in Montgomery County and the rest of Pennsylvania makes us a hugely valuable asset as you plan your defense. With our help, you can rest assured that you are making the decisions necessary to protect your rights and future in a way that fits your personal needs, abilities, and interests.

Contact our Criminal Law Team, Montgomery County's DUI-defense attorneys, online or by phone at 888-555-3686.

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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