If you are stopped and asked to take a Breathalyzer test by the Carbondale police, you might feel offended. Especially if you have not been drinking or only had one beer. You might consider refusing to take the test. However, this would be a bad idea. Under...
Drunk Driving
A DUI stop could quickly take a turn for the worse
In the event that you’re pulled over for suspicion of DUI, it’s natural to have concerns about what will unfold over the next few minutes. While the officer will do their part in determining if you’ve broken the law, there are steps you can take to protect yourself....
How a DUI can affect your life
If you’re pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the officer will do whatever they can to get to the bottom of their suspicion. In addition to asking you questions, they may request that you take a field sobriety test and/or breathalyzer...
New DUI law stiffens penalties and includes felony charges
Pennsylvania has long been unique as one of only four states whose drunk driving laws did not make any form of DUI violation a felony. The legislature has now shed that questionable distinction by passing a bill that makes certain repeat offenders guilty of a felony....
Understanding Pennsylvania’s implied consent law
Many residents of Lackawanna County have heard of "Breathalyzer tests" or "implied consent," but few understand the law behind the names. The Pennsylvania Legislature, like legislatures in the other 49 states, has passed a law that requires all persons driving on the...
DUI victims group pushes for stronger penalties
As the Pennsylvania legislative session nears adjournment, people who consider themselves victims of drunk drivers are pushing for stronger penalties. The draft legislation is aimed at repeat drunk drivers, and its principal goal is to make a third DUI offense a...
How does a Breathalyzer work?
Most residents of Lackawanna County are aware that local police departments use a device called a "Breathalyzer" to measure the blood alcohol content of persons believed to be driving under the influence of alcohol, but very few understand how such devices work. While...
The best approach to drunk driving charges
Each year thousands of Pennsylvania residents are arrested on drunk driving charges. The circumstances that lead to these arrests can be quite varied but, in most cases, a law enforcement officer will allegedly view some traffic violation, initiate a traffic stop and...
Proposed Pennsylvania law would make DUI penalties stiffer
Charges associated with drunk driving are unquestionably serious and can carry stiff penalties and consequences. Proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would make penalties for repeat drunk drivers, and for those who are involved in a fatal accident while driving under...
DUI criminal defense basics
Because serious potential penalties and consequences can arise related to drunk driving charges, an equally serious criminal defense response is important. DUI convictions can result in both criminal and administrative penalties. Criminal penalties can include...