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    DUI Drugs / Controlled Substance in Pennsylvania

    A person arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania faces tough penalties. And if drugs or a controlled substance were found in your system Pennsylvania’s tough laws warrant even harsher punishment.

    A DUI of drugs is punishable by the same standards of the highest level of DUI of alcohol.

    If you are convicted of a first time DUI Controlled Substance in Pennsylvania you face:

    • Jail time (Up to 6 months)
    • A suspended drivers’ license
    • Heavy fines (Up to $5,000)
    • A criminal record (A misdemeanor)
    • Other consequences (getting insurance, getting a job, college admission)

    If this is a second DUI or multiple DUI offense, a conviction could mean up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 among other penalties.

    A 2016 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court may impact your DUI case – Read more about the recent Birchfield Ruling or call Attorney Shrager today for a Free Consultation.

    Don’t Be Scared; Be Prepared!™

    Knowing your rights and having an experienced and aggressive Pittsburgh criminal attorney on your side is a first step in combating your charges and fighting for a clean record.

    Being arrested does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. Let Shrager Defense Attorneys help you fight for your rights.

    If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI, the very first thing you should do is contact an experienced and aggressive Pittsburgh DUI lawyer and get a free legal consultation.

    Attorney David J. Shrager is available via his cell phone, 24/7, and will personally return your call. He understands that good people make mistakes and that some DUI charges and arrests may not be applicable in certain situations. Let him help you keep a clean record.

    Attorney David J. Shrager has fought and won numerous DUI of drugs cases. He works with many families and individuals facing DUI convictions in Western Pennsylvania and Allegheny County.

    DUI of Drugs / Controlled Substance

    Pennsylvania DUI penalties can be very tough.

    The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substances, Drugs, Device and Cosmetic Act lists the drugs and controlled substances, which fall under different schedules.

    Driving a vehicle while under the influence of certain drugs that fall under these schedules is not permissible. This could include prescription medication, marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth or heroin.

    Penalty for DUI of Drugs / Controlled Substance Convictions

    Sentencing guidelines for DUI Controlled Substance convictions in Pennsylvania are listed below.

    These guidelines do not list the indirect punishments you face if you are convicted of a DUI, which could include loss of employment, difficult finding future employment, difficulty in getting into college, loss of parental rights, difficulty finding housing and insurance, your reputation and other court fees and fines.

    First Offense – DUI Drugs in Pennsylvania

    If you are convicted, a first time DUI of a controlled substance in PA comes with:

    • a minimum of 72 hours and a maximum of 6 months in jail
    • a misdemeanor on your record
    • a fine of $1,000 to $5,000
    • a one year license suspension.

    Other penalties include attending alcohol highway safety school and other treatment programs. Read our page on a First DUI in PA.

    Second Offense – DUI Drugs in Pennsylvania

    A second drugged DUI conviction means you could face:

    • a minimum of 90 days in prison and a maximum of five years in prison
    • an 18 month license suspension
    • a first degree misdemeanor
    • a fine from $1,500 to $10,000
    • alcohol highway safety school
    • one year of the ignition interlock program.

    See our page on a Second DUI in PA.

    Multiple Offenses – DUI Drugs in Pennsylvania

    Being convicted more then twice in Pennsylvania is a very serious offense. You could face one to five years in prison, an 18 month license suspension, a first degree misdemeanor, fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, alcohol highway safety school and one year of the ignition interlock program.

    See our page on Multiple DUIs in PA.

    How a Pittsburgh DUI Lawyer Can Help

    An experienced and reputable DUI lawyer will provide you with aggressive defense, legal guidance and resources to battle your charges. An aggressive attorney is going to closely examine and investigate the details of your case, seeking out any missteps in the way the police handled your case.

    For instance, the police need probable cause to have stopped your vehicle in the first place. After that, there are procedures they needed to follow, including reading you the O’Connell warnings regarding drug test refusal. And when administering the drug tests, certain procedures need to have been followed. If there were any missteps during these procedures, the evidence could be suppressed and your case will be dismissed.

    In other instances there are alternatives to jail time, such as treatment programs and the Allegheny County ARD program for first time offenders. Oftentimes people need treatment more than they need a jail sentence, which harms not only them, but also their family. A good DUI attorney could help in facilitating this process and help convince the court that you need treatment over jail and costly fines.

    The majority of our clients are good people who find themselves in bad situations. At Shrager Defense Attorneys, we work diligently to convince the judge of your innocence and disprove the prosecution’s case.

    Attorney David J. Shrager is an experienced and aggressive Pittsburgh DUI attorney who understands the legal process and will help you understand your rights so that, together, we can defend them. He will examine your case very closely and use every possible strategy to win your case.

    Call or text 412-969-2540 or call toll free 1-888-LAWMAN-0 (529-6260) today to speak directly to DUI Attorney David J. Shrager. 

    Attorney Shrager is available 24 hours a day / seven days a week) for a free consultation.

    Learn More About DUI Laws in Pennsylvania:

    Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by our legal team so they can fight for your rights.