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Lebanon DUI Lawyer

Lebanon DUI Defense

Lebanon is a quiet Pennsylvania town, located between Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster and Reading which was bypassed by modern transport routes I-78 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  In the area which is now Lebanon, Pennsylvania, native tribes included the Shawnee, Lenape, Nanticoke, Gawanese, and Susquehannock. Lebanon was settled by European colonists in 1720, originally known as Light’s Fort. The town was laid out in 1753, incorporated as a borough in 1821, and became a city in 1885. In 1878, a murder which occurred in Fort Indiantown Gap resulted in a trial of six defendants, all of whom had blue eyes. The trial was held in the Lebanon County Courthouse; a newspaper reporter attended the trial, dubbing the defendants the Blue-eyed Six. Five of the six defendants were hanged at the County Jail, with the trail receiving worldwide publicity.

Lebanon is an old transportation and minor industrial center located on the route of the original canal through the area.  Lebanon was formerly home to a major steel mill operated by Bethlehem Steel, and Lebanon bologna was first made here. Like some other Pennsylvania towns, Lebanon drops or raises a unique item on New Year’s Eve at midnight. A 150-pound Lebanon bologna is donated each year for the festivities. The bologna is encased in a metal frame and suspended from a fire department ladder truck, later donated to a rescue mission. In 2008, Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs visited Seltzer Smokehouse Meats to film a production of Lebanon bologna.

There are many historic structures in the town, some of which have been repurposed into residential homes and small businesses. The area around Lebanon is primarily farmland, with the Allegheny Ridge protecting the area from the harshest weather coming in from the Northwest. The climate of Lebanon is pleasant, with warm, humid summers, and winters, which are less bitterly cold and have less snow than other northeast areas. Precipitation is frequent, particularly when a storm moves up the Atlantic Coast. Some of the more notable people from Lebanon include:

  • Bobby Gerhart, NASCAR driver;
  • Todd Klick, American writer;
  • Thomas Albert, composer;
  • Kerry Collins, former NFL quarterback;
  • Derek Fisher, outfielder for the Houston Astros;
  • Dick Shiner, former NFL quarterback;
  • Jared Odrick, NFL defensive end for the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars;
  • Frank Reich, former NFL quarterback and coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and
  • Randal Kleiser, American film director, producer, and screenwriter.

Lebanon, Pennsylvania DUI Penalties

Pennsylvania has relatively strict DUI penalties—which have gotten even harsher within the past year. Pennsylvania has a unique tier system as far as DUI penalties go. The tiers are based on BAC, as well as multiple DUI convictions. The lowest penalty category for a Pennsylvania DUI is a BAC from 0.08 percent to .99 percent. The higher penalty category for a Pennsylvania DUI is a BAC from .10 percent to .159 percent, and the highest penalty category for a Pennsylvania DUI is .16 percent or higher.

For a first-time DUI (within the past ten years), where the BAC is from 0.08 percent to .10 percent, and there was no damages or injuries and no implied consent violation (refusal), the offense is considered an ungraded misdemeanor. The penalties for this offense are a mandatory six months’ probation, a fine of $300, a full drug and alcohol assessment if indicated by a CRN, but no mandatory license suspension and no mandatory Ignition Interlock device. A first DUI with a higher BAC can result in 48 hours to 6 months in jail, fines from $500 to $5,000, a 12-month license suspension, a one-year Ignition Interlock device installed, with no waiting period, and a full drug and alcohol assessment.

For a second DUI within the past ten years with a BAC from 0.08 percent to .10 percent, you could serve from five days to six months in jail, could be fined from $300 to $2,500, could have your license suspended for 12 months, could be required to have an Interlock Ignition device installed for one year, with six months until eligibility, and could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment. For a second DUI with a higher BAC, you could spend from 30 days to six months in jail, could be fined from $750 to $5,000, could have your driver’s license suspended for 12 months, could be required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed for one year (with a waiting period of nine months), and could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment.

For a third DUI within the past ten years with a BAC from 0.08 percent to .10 percent, you could serve from ten days to two years in jail, could pay a fine from $500 to $5,000, could have your driver’s license suspended for 12 months, could be required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed for one year, with eligibility after six months and could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment. For a third DUI with a higher BAC, you could spend from 90 days to five years behind bars, could be fined from $1,500 to $10,000, could have your driver’s license suspended for 18 months, could be required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed for one year, with eligibility after nine months, and could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment.

A fourth or subsequent DUI within ten years is charged as a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. For a fourth or subsequent DUI with a BAC from 0.08 percent to .10 percent you could serve from 10 days to seven years in jail, could pay fines from $500 to $15,000, could have your driver’s license suspended for 18 months, could be required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed for one year, with eligibility after nine months, could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment and could be subject to DNA sampling. For a fourth or subsequent DUI within ten years with a higher BAC is also charged as a felony and can result in jail time from one to seven years, could pay fines from $1,500 to $15,000, could have your driver’s license suspended for 18 months, could be required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed for one year, with eligibility after nine months, could be required to have a full drug and alcohol assessment and could be subject to DNA sampling.

ARD in Lebanon

In Lebanon, the Accelerated Rehabilitation Program is a one-time alternative to a trial, a conviction, or a possible jail sentence. When the individual completes the ARD program, the DUI charges are dismissed. ARD results in a quicker disposition of the DUI charges, fewer court appearances, the possibility of reduced legal fees, no jail term if the ARD application is accepted, and the program completed, dismissal of charges when the program is complete and reduced driver’s license suspension for DUI violations. To be accepted into the ARD program, you must make the ARD application prior to your preliminary hearing date. You must then agree to waive the preliminary hearing and complete a Court Reporting Network Evaluation within 10 days of the ARD application. Finally, you must complete a Drug and Alcohol Evaluation at your own expense. To be considered for the ARD program, there must have been no serious injuries, and you must have a relatively clean driving record. Once accepted into the ARD program, you will pay all ARD costs and restitution as determined by the court. You must pay a processing fee prior to your ARD placement date, and the District Attorney will recommend ARD and a probationary period, with no jail time involved. You may have up to 60 days suspension of your driver’s license under ARD and be required to attend an Alcohol Safe Driving School at your own expense.

Our Lebanon DUI Lawyers Are There When You Need Us

At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Lebanon County DUI attorneys are here to help you following your DUI charges. We understand you are facing many serious penalties, and that you may be feeling very anxious about your future—and rightfully so. You likely have many questions regarding your Lebanon DUI charges, and we have the answers you need. We also understand that if you are unable to drive, you may also be unable to work, therefore, we will always fight hard to retain your driving privileges.

Our criminal defense attorneys are proud to represent all Lebanon County residents who are facing DUI charges. We believe you deserve another chance, and we will work hard to ensure you get that chance. We also believe that good people make mistakes and should not have to pay for a mistake forever. Contact us today at (717) 291-9400 or (877) 529-2422.

 

 

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