Penalties for DUI

Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is a state with a ten-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after ten years. If it is ten years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within ten years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

Pennsylvania DUI / DAI law has a three-tiered system: one DUI punishment for those who drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 to .099%, another set of DUI punishments for blood alcohol levels from .10 to .159%, and the harshest DUI punishment for those who drive with blood alcohol levels of .16% or higher.
First DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR
The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in Pennsylvania:

Penalty for 0.08 to 0.099% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $300 fine
• 6 months probation
• no drivers license suspension on first offence

Penalty for 0.10 to 0.159% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $500 to $5,000 fine
• 2 days to 6 months in jail
• 1 year drivers license suspension (occupational restricted license available after 60 days)

Penalty for 0.16 and above BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $1,000 to $5,000 fine
• 3 days to 6 months in jail
• 1 year drivers license suspension (occupational restricted license available after 60 days)
Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR
The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in Pennsylvania:

Penalty for 0.08 to 0.099% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $300 to $2,500 fine
• 5 days to 6 months in jail
• 1 year drivers license suspension
Penalty for 0.10 to 0.159% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $750 to $5,000 fine
• 30 days to 6 months in prison
• 1 year drivers license suspension

Penalty for 0.16 and above BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $1,500 plus fine
• 90 days to 5 years in jail
• 18 month drivers license suspension
Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Misdemeanor
The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in Pennsylvania:

Penalty for 0.08 to 0.099% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $500 to $5,000 fine
• 10 days to 2 years in jail
• 1 year drives license suspension

Penalty for 0.10 to 0.159% BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• $1,500 to $10,000 fine
• 90 days to 5 years in jail
• 18 month drivers license suspension

Penalty for 0.16 and above BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)

• minimum $2,500 fine
• 1 to 5 years in jail
• 18 month drivers license suspension

Penalties for underage (under 21) DUI with 0.02% and above BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration)
The minimum penalties for underage drink driving are:

• up to $500 fine plus costs
• 90 day drivers license suspension for 1st offence
• 1 year drivers license suspension for 2nd offence
• 2 year drivers license suspension for 3rd and subsequent offences

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania drivers face a drivers license suspension ranging from at least 1 year for failing to submit to a chemical test.
 
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