The law firm of Platt, DiGiorgio & DiFabio in Paoli has helped Pennsylvania families with their legal matters since 1983. In addition to our extensive experience, two of our attorneys are AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, meaning our peers consider us to be at the highest level of professional excellence. Our firm has a reputation for being understanding, easy to work with, and compassionate.. Our attorneys are ready to assist you with Criminal Defense, Family Law, Divorce and any other legal issue confronting you. Contact us today to learn more about how our team of dedicated attorneys can help you. Experienced attorneys in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties Whether you need assistance with a criminal charge, such as DUI or drug possession, or a divorce or other family law matter, our lawyers have nearly a century of combined experience helping clients with these and other legal matters, including: Personal injury Workers compensation Automobile accidents Premises liability Products liability Slip and fall accidents Civil litigation Wrongful death Criminal law DUI/DWI Drug crimes Traffic violations Capital offenses Juvenile crimes Parole and probation Post-conviction appeals Family law Divorce Child custody Child support Visitation rights Estate administration Estate planning Trusts Wills and probate Business law Contracts Transactions Real estate Unparalleled service on your behalf Choosing our firm to represent you means you gain a formidable ally with experience in and out of the courtroom. Each attorney at our firm is prepared to provide you with: Hands-on help. We are proud to offer you personalized legal support. We realize the law can be confusing, so our attorneys are ready to guide you through every stage of your case. Accessible guidance. Facing a legal issue of any type can be stressful. We make it a point always to be available and responsive to our clients. We always return calls and never delay in moving cases forward. Aggressive advocacy. Although we are known for being compassionate, we are also known for being tenacious. Our lawyers fight hard to help clients get the positive results they deserve.
At Platt, DiGiorgio & DiFabio, we know the fear and worry that our clients feel when facing a DUI charge. Below are some common questions about drunk driving that our attorneys are often asked: What is the law in Pennsylvania on Driving Under the Influence? What is the ARD program? Does the ARD differ in each County Court System? What if I am not eligible for ARD or am a repeat offender? Are there possible ways to defend a DUI case? If I am stopped by the police, and they ask me to take a blood or breath test, am I required to? Reputable DUI defense lawyers serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey Platt, DiGiorgio & DiFabio has been defending motorists since 1983. Experienced and respected, our firm has the knowledge and skill to help you fight a DUI charge. To speak to one of our lawyers, call us today at 267-388-1934 or contact us online. What is the law in Pennsylvania on Driving Under the Influence? In Pennsylvania, a person may not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the extent that it renders a person incapable of safely operating a vehicle. Furthermore, a person may not operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08% or greater and/or with certain drugs in their system. Pennsylvania law provides for a three-tiered system of increasing penalties, depending on the blood alcohol level and if drugs are present in the blood. Additionally, the penalties increase if you are a multiple DUI offender. Back to top What is the ARD program? ARD stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. This is a diversionary program where a person is placed on pre-trial probation without a conviction. It is available for first time offenders in any non-violent case and is most often used for first time DUI offenders. The benefits of the program are avoidance of possible mandatory jail time; a reduced driver license suspension; no conviction on your criminal record; successful completion of probation results in a dismissal of your charges and an opportunity to Petition the court for an expungement of your criminal record. Back to top Does ARD differ in each County Court System? Yes, the forms and the process to apply for the ARD program and the court proceedings differ in each county. If the procedures are not properly followed, it can result in a rejection of your application for admission to the program. Back to top What if I am not eligible for ARD or I am a repeat offender? If you are rejected for the ARD program, most counties have a procedure to request reconsideration. If the request for reconsideration fails or you are not eligible for the ARD program, there are certain mandatory penalties for guilty pleas or convictions in DUI cases, including mandatory jail time, so your case must be closely examined for possible defenses (see below). If you are a repeat offender, you may be facing an increased mandatory jail sentence. However, most counties have a unique program for the reduction of this mandatory jail sentence. Some counties offer weekend sentences and/or home monitoring options. Additionally, there are mandatory driver license suspensions for a guilty plea or conviction. These suspensions vary, depending on the number of prior offenses and the tier (see above) of your offense. You may qualify for an Occupational Limited License after serving a certain portion of the suspension. Back to top Are there possible ways to defend a DUI case? Yes, these defenses could include many issues such as the legality of the initial stop (including the observations of the police officer), the nature of the field sobriety tests, the request for blood or breath test, the results of any blood or breath test, possible witnesses who may have been with you prior to the stop by the officer, or witnesses at the scene of the stop. Back to top If I am stopped by the police, and they ask me to take a blood or breath test, am I required to do so? Yes. If the officer validly has stopped your vehicle, you must submit to a request for a breath or blood test. If you refuse, your license will be suspended for a year by PennDot regardless of what happens to your DUI case and in addition to any license suspension imposed as a result of your DUI case. There are certain limited ways to obtain a reversal of such a suspension. The procedure to contest such a suspension is to appeal the suspension to the Court of Common Pleas and have a hearing that is separate from your DUI case.