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The number of DUI incidents picked up by local and Pennsylvania State Police will continue to increase as law enforcement cracks down on those driving under the influence. There is an ongoing effort by police to monitor closely the driving habits of all Pennsylvanians. It has become increasingly clear that car owners need access to superior legal representation, whether you are accused of DUI, or have been the victim of a drunken driver. The laws covering this offense are complex and have changed over the years.
Delaware County residents are fortunate to be close to some of the best professional resources in the United States today. Steven E. Kellis, a graduate of Villanova Law School and Bucknell University is a prominent PA DUI Attorney. He has handled over 100 DUI trials and over 1,000 evidentiary hearings. As a former DUI prosecutor, he knows the tactics police and prosecutors use. If you are arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania, penalties are rigorous: if you are over 21 (legal drinking age), and you blood alcohol level is .08 or higher, you are considered to be DUI. You may also be convicted at a lower BAC rate if you are driving erratically. If you are under 21 BAC is .02 or greater.
Just by being licensed in Pennsylvania you have agreed to chemical testing. If you refuse to have one or more tests for breath, blood or urine, your license will be suspended for one year. This is in additional to penalties for the DUI offense. Even if you are found not guilty of DUI and have refused the test, your license will be suspended for one year. A two and a half year suspension may result if you refuse to take the test and you are determined to be DUI, depending on your BAC level at the time of arrest. If you refuse testing and have a prior DUI conviction you will receive an eighteen month suspension for refusal plus eighteen more months for DUI. A first offense results in 6 months probation, a $300 fine, and no suspension. A second offense results in 5 days to 6 months in prison, a $300 to $2500 fine, and a 12 month suspension. A third offense brings 10 days to 2 years in prison, a $500 to $5000 fine, and a 12 month suspension.
Penalties increase the higher your blood alcohol, the more serious injuries
and damages resulting from driving while impaired, and the more times you are convicted. Second and third offenders must have an ignition interlock system installed for one year. You may have to attend alcohol abuse screening and treatment. A judge may also order 150 hours of community service.
There are more severe penalties for those with a higher BAC. In order to know your rights as a victim of an accident or as an individual charged with DUI, you need to consult the best attorney for Delaware County, and that attorney is Steven E. Kellis.
Discover Delaware County
Named for the Delaware River, Delaware County was formed from a part of Chester County. Its county seat is Media. Just west of Philadelphia, it belongs to the Delaware Valley area. To its west is Chester County; to its north, Montgomery. Delaware County has depressed areas like the City of Chester and Darby, and affluent enclaves like Villanova and Radnor.
The first major settlement in the county brought the Swedes to Tinicum Island in the 1660s. In 1689, William Penn became proprietor of Pennsylvania and he signed a document that established Pennsylvania’s democratic government. The place of his first landing was Chester. In succeeding years there were developments at Marcus Hook, Upland-Chester, Darby and Tinicum. The shipbuilding industry thrived, and maritime trade flourished.
With the onset of the American Revolution, Delaware County became a battleground, and the war’s largest battle was fought along the Brandywine River on September 11, 1777. Here the young Marquis de Lafayette began his service to the American cause.
Delaware County’s riverfront developed into a heavily industrial area. Ships were built for foreign buyers, and Baldwin locomotives were shipped from it docks. The waterfront area became a significant factor during both World Wars. Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Baldwin Locomotive, Westinghouse Electric, Scott Paper and the American Viscose Corporation were located there. In the eastern part of the county, 69th Street became a terminus for transportation in 1907. Elevated trains from Philadelphia connected with trolleys that served Delaware County.
Centers of population in Delaware County are Broomall, Chadds Ford, Chester, Cheyney, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Darby, Drexel Hill, Glenolden, Havertown, Lansdowne, Lester, Marcus Hook, Newtown Square, Radnor, Ridley Park, Sharon Hill, Swarthmore, Villanova, and Yeadon.
The end of World War II saw considerable residential activity in Delaware County as more and more families moved to the suburbs, attracted by good schools and proximity to Philadelphia. Delaware County’s long list of post high school institutions added to the increase in cultural activities. Among the colleges and universities are Cabrini, Villanova, Rosemont, Cheyney, Eastern College, Swarthmore, Widener and the Delaware County Community College, to mention only a few.
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