3rd DUI In PA
Although a third DUI offense is not a felony but a misdemeanor according to PA law, the gravity will differ depending on the BAC as well. Tire 2 and 3 DUI offences are first-degree misdemeanors, tire 1 DUI is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Penalties For 3rd DUI In PA
The penalties for 3rd DUI in PA are strict and include both administrative and criminal penalties (such as jail term), which is, however, only just. The lookback period in PA is 10 years, which means that you will be convicted of 3rd DUI in PA if you had 2 previous DUI incidents within the last 10 years. Like with 1st and 2nd DUI offences , 3 tire system is applied to 3rd time DUI offences, which means that the penalty inflicted depends on your BAC level.
Tier 1 (BAC less than .099).
- jail term - ten days to 2 years
- fine - $500 to $5,000.
- license suspension - 1 year
- ignition interlock device -1 year
Tier 2 ( BAC 0.10 to .159).
- jail term - 90 days to 5 years,
- fine - $1,500 to $10,000.
- license suspension - 18 months
- ignition interlock device -1 year
Tier 3 ( BAC 0.16 and more ).
- jail term - 1 to 5 years,
- fine - $2,500 to $10,000.
- license suspension - 18 months
- ignition interlock device -1 year
By the court’s order, you may have pass assessment and receive treatment, and serve up to 150 hours of community service. Driving without ignition interlock device imposed by the judge is a crime which inflicts extension of ignition interlock period for one year from the date of conviction for tampering.
BAC requirements to commercial drivers, school bus drivers and school vehicle or and drivers under 21 years old are stricter than for common drivers - even with low BAC the offence may be qualified as with higher BAC. For example, a school bus driver with BAC .097 (Tire 1) may be sentenced with Tire 2 penalties. In the same manner, higher category penalties are applied to DUI incidents that resulted in property damage or personal injury. 3rd time PA DUI offenders are not eligible for ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition).
Auto Isurance After 3nd DUI
Taking into account that your driver’s license will be suspended for at least 1 year, regardless of the tire, unless a very skilled DUI attorney manages to prove that the test wasn’t taken properly or a police officer did something that makes ruins the whole DUI case, it’s the attorney whom you need in the first place. As to insurance, companies like Progressive are known for covering even repeated DUI offenders.
