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Free Consultation:
610-436-1410Berks County
DUI charges in Berks County, PA can negatively impact your future, affecting your career, education, and personal life. A conviction for drinking and driving can also result in a driver’s license suspension, time behind bars, fines, and more.
If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Berks, you should contact an experienced DUI defense lawyer immediately. With a record of success in DUI cases in the area, attorney Michael J. Skinner aggressively fights for each of his clients and is ready to help you.
At Skinner Law Firm, we know that pleading guilty to a DUI may not be the best approach for your case. We make every effort to avoid a conviction and license suspension. Call (610) 436-1410 for a free consultation.
Under Pennsylvania law, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) for drivers is .08. There is a tiered approach toward DUI enforcement and treatment. That means a driver’s BAC and criminal history will affect the charges that they face.
There are three categories of penalties, depending on the accused’s BAC — general impairment, High BAC, and Highest BAC. The penalties for each category get steeper with each subsequent DUI.
A first DUI in Pennsylvania will be charged as an ungraded misdemeanor. If convicted, you will need to install an ignition interlock device in your car. You could have up to six months of probation, a $300 fine, and attend alcohol safety school.
You may be ordered to receive alcohol dependency treatment.
After your first DUI offense, you can expect to start facing harsher consequences.
For instance, a second DUI charge means you still face an ungraded misdemeanor, a yearlong use of an IID, and ordered to get treatment. However, you could be fined up to $2,500 and receive a 12-month license suspension. You will also be given time behind bars — 5 days to 6 months in jail.
For 2 or more DUI offenses, you will be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor. Like other DUI offenses, you could be ordered to install an IID in your vehicle, receive treatment when ordered, and receive a 12-month license suspension.
However, you can now be fined anywhere between $500-5,000 and 10 days to 2 years in prison.
An increased BAC means you were operating a vehicle after consuming a large amount of alcohol, and if you’re charged with a High BAC or Highest BAC DUI, you can expect to face even steeper penalties than you would at a general impairment level.
For example, a first DUI at a High BAC level, which means you were found to have a BAC between .10 to .159, could land you an ungraded misdemeanor, but you’d spend time behind bars, up to $5,000 fines, and a 12-month license suspension.
For each subsequent high BAC, your penalties will just get more and more extreme.
A Berks County DUI lawyer can explain the nuances that affect DUI charges and sentencing.
Even though it might feel like it, getting arrested for a DUI is not the end of the world. You are innocent until proven guilty and you have the right to a fair trial.
By working with a skilled DUI defense attorney, you can create a strategy to fight against your DUI charges.
Police must have reasonable suspicion to conduct a traffic stop. If they lacked a valid reason for stopping you, evidence like BAC test results collected afterward may not hold up in court.
Field sobriety tests may be influenced by external factors such as road conditions, weather, or physical impairments. Contesting the accuracy of these tests can reduce the evidence against you.
Breathalyzers require consistent calibration and maintenance, and chemical tests need to follow exact protocols. If these processes weren’t followed, the results may be unreliable or invalid.
Certain health issues, including acid reflux or diabetes, can skew BAC readings or create signs that resemble impairment. Presenting medical evidence can challenge the reliability of the test results.
Specific guidelines dictate how BAC tests should be conducted. If these procedures weren’t properly followed, such as observing a mandatory waiting period, the results may be contested.
The “rising BAC” defense posits that your BAC was under the legal limit while you were driving but increased by the time you were tested. This often occurs if alcohol is still being absorbed.
For a DUI arrest to be legal, police must have probable cause, often based on observed impairment. If they lack adequate cause, the resulting evidence may not be allowed in court.
If your rights were violated during your arrest—for example, if you weren’t given a Miranda warning—any statements or evidence may be deemed inadmissible by the court.
If you’ve been charged with drunk driving in Berks County, you can find resources to help you navigate the legal process.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in the Berks County area, it is likely that you dealt with the Reading Police Department or the Berks County Sheriff’s Office.
Reading Police Department
815 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601
610-655-6116
Berks County Sheriff’s Office
Berks County Courthouse
633 Court Street, 3rd Floor
Reading, PA 19601
610-478-6240
If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, your first court appearance will be at the magisterial district court of the township or precinct where you were arrested. Berks County has several magisterial courts that handle the preliminary hearings for DUI cases.
After you have been arrested for a DUI in Berks County, you might be hesitant to spend money on a drinking and driving defense attorney. After all, you are already facing court fees and fines, and you may have been suspended or terminated from work. It might be hard to justify spending money on an attorney.
These are arguments for hiring a defense attorney. You can attempt to fight your DUI charges alone, but with an experienced DUI defense lawyer, you stand a much better chance of getting your charges dropped or reduced. Your attorney may even be able to find a way to get you into a diversionary program that will offer a much more favorable outcome than a trial.
You risk more than just a suspended license or a fine if you are convicted — your future is on the line.
Attorney Michael J. Skinner is a dedicated defense attorney ready to hear your story. He understands how difficult it can be to get arrested for a DUI, and he knows what it takes to get the best outcome possible.
His time as a district attorney provides Mike insight into the prosecutor’s playbook, and he can use his knowledge to investigate your case and build a solid defense.
When you have been charged with drunk driving, a lot is on the line. You could go to jail, lose your driver’s license, and even face repercussions in your personal life.
With so much at stake, it’s important to have an experienced West Chester DUI defense attorney on your side who will protect your rights and best interests.
Michael J. Skinner has over a decade of legal experience, and he’s ready to take on your case. He will listen to the facts and help find the most optimal outcome for your situation. Based on the details, this could mean a reduction, keeping your license, getting your DUI dismissed, or proving your innocence in court.
To schedule a free consultation about your DUI, call (610) 436-1410 or fill out our online contact form.