Have You Received a DUI?
The charge of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is one of the most common offenses our firm faces. For over 35 years, Bononi and Company has defended our clients facing a DUI.
A DUI Can Affect Many Aspects Of Your Life
Will you lose your driver’s license? Can you still possess a firearm? Will you go to jail? In Pennsylvania, a DUI is a serious offense that can have severe consequences.
No one starts up their car fully anticipating a DUI arrest. However, once charged with a DUI, we can help you through the legal process and fight for your best interests. At Bononi & Company, P.C., our team knows that sometimes good people find themselves in tough situations.
Do I need a DUI Defense Attorney?
Our firm believes that someone facing a DUI is best able to defend themselves when they have an advocate in their corner.
A DUI can have a tremendous impact on your life. If you are facing a DUI, you will be facing the police officer that pulled you over and all of the resources of the District Attorney’s Office in that county. There will be an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the case against you. There are county specific rules of court, Pennsylvania’s rules of evidence, and even different procedures in each courtroom. These different rules can be complicated and failure to follow them can have a negative result on your DUI case.
Having a DUI defense lawyer on your side can be the difference between justice and injustice.
You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty
There is only one way you can be found guilty of a DUI: The prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, all of the elements of a DUI. The elements of a DUI are:
- You were in actual physical control of a moving vehicle.
- The vehicle was positioned on a highway or trafficway.
- You had a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher, alcohol made you incapable of safe driving or you were under the influence of an illegal substance.
The Constitution Protects You
No matter the situation, your rights should be protected. Evidence against you must be obtained lawfully.
Did the police have reasonable suspicion to stop you?
Did the police have probable cause to arrest you?
Did the police read you your Miranda rights?
Did the police have valid consent to draw your blood?
If evidence was obtained unlawfully, the prosecution may not use that evidence in their case against you. The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Pennsylvania protect you. The Defense Team at Bononi and Company prides themselves in defending the constitution by fighting for their clients.
Bononi & Company, DUI Defense Attorneys
Our firm aggressively fights for our clients. If you hire our firm, you will work directly with our DUI defense team.
Your DUI attorney will meet with you in person and go over all possible defenses with you. They will provide you a detailed explanation of the criminal process and what options you have.
If you have questions, your DUI attorney can meet with you in person at our Greensburg office, Latrobe office, Irwin office, or Johnstown office.
Charged with a DUI, What Options Do I Have?
Our firm believes in empowering our clients to make the best decisions for themselves. Ultimately, it is your decision whether or not you want to plead guilty or to go to trial.
Someone facing a DUI may be eligible for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). If that’s an option, we will explain to you what is entailed in the ARD process and whether or not it is the right fit for you.
We help our clients evaluate plea offers and explain to them whether or not the terms of the plea agreement are fair. If the terms are not fair, any one charged with a crime has the option to go to trial.
What Are the Costs of a DUI?
Being guilty of a DUI can result in a fine ranging from $300 to $10,000. In addition to the fine, there are various fees that defendants are responsible for including court costs, supervision by adult probation supervision, and state mandated fees.
Depending on whether the DUI occurred in Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Cambria County, or Fayette County also has an impact on what costs you may be responsible for.
DUI and License Suspensions
If you are guilty of a DUI, then it is likely that you will face a license suspension. These suspensions typically range between 12 months and 18 months.
It is important that you speak with an attorney that handles DUI defense before you make any decisions concerning your case. You may be eligible for a Limited License, ARD, or potentially plead to a lessor offense. These options can either reduce the length of the suspension or at least permit you to drive on a limited basis.
It is best to address these issues early in your case.
Challenging the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Pennsylvania has a tiered grading system for DUIs that is based on BAC, Blood Alcohol Content. Because of this, evidence of your BAC is critical in a DUI case.
How the police obtained evidence about your BAC and the accuracy of the test performed for your BAC are often challenged in court.
Our DUI defense team is trained to review your case to determine whether or not the evidence of your BAC should be suppressed (excluded from trial). There may be issues with how a breathalyzer was administered, how blood was drawn, or its possible that the police did not have probable cause for the test. These issues may help to resolve your case.
Do Not Wait To Contact Us, Free Consultations
A DUI or traffic ticket can have major consequences. Get an experienced attorney’s advice to help you determine your defense. Call the lawyers at Bononi & Company, P.C., today at 724-832-2499 or contact us online. We will be happy to sit down and speak with you at our Greensburg office, Latrobe office, Irwin office, or Johnstown office.
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