In DUI cases, a single incident can give rise to multiple charges, including serious offenses like involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault by vehicle, depending on the circumstances. Pennsylvania courts must determine whether these charges warrant separate sentences or should merge for sentencing purposes, as discussed in a recent decision issued…
In DUI cases, courts often rely on evidence from medical records, including blood alcohol content (BAC) results, to support convictions. Recently, a Pennsylvania court affirmed a trial court’s decision to admit BAC evidence from a defendant’s medical records despite the defendant’s challenge based on hearsay and confrontation rights. If you…
While some DUI charges result from stops initiated due to suspicion that a motorist is intoxicated, others arise from stops that the police conduct for other reasons. If it is subsequently revealed that the police lacked adequate grounds to effectuate a stop, there may be a basis for arguing that…
Pursuant to recent changes in the law, police officers investigating DUI crimes can no longer compel suspects to submit to blood tests. Pennsylvania’s implied consent law presumes that people consent to submit to breath tests, though, and if they refuse to do so, it may result in a license suspension.…
In Pennsylvania DUI cases, the prosecution carries the burden of proving guilt. Generally, to do so the Commonwealth must introduce testimony from a live witness regarding the results of any chemical testing. They can rely on a written report in lieu of such testimony, unless the defendant objects. If the…
Pennsylvania, like most states, increases the penalty imposed on people found guilty of DUI with each subsequent conviction. Until recently, DUI charges that were resolved via ARD did not count as prior offenses for the purposes of DUI crimes. As discussed in a recent Pennsylvania opinion, though, the law has…
In Pennsylvania, penalties for driving under the influence increase for second and subsequent convictions. While in many cases it is clear whether an offense constitutes a person’s first or second DUI offense, in some, such as in cases involving Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, it is less clear. The confusion over calculating…
Under Pennsylvania law, while motorists suspected of DUI are deemed to consent to breath tests pursuant to the implied consent law, they must provide express consent to submit to a blood test. Such consent must be voluntary and informed, however. If it is not, and a test is administered regardless,…
Under Pennsylvania law, people should not be convicted of DUI crimes unless the prosecution establishes their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Doing so does not necessarily require the Commonwealth to introduce concrete evidence of a DUI defendant’s intoxication, however. Rather, as demonstrated in a recent Pennsylvania opinion issued in a…
Under recent changes in Pennsylvania law, people can consume marijuana for medical purposes in certain circumstances. They can nonetheless be charged with marijuana-related DUI crimes if they drive while under the influence of marijuana, though. Thus, as discussed in a recent Pennsylvania opinion issued in a DUI case, the smell…