Driving under the influence (DUI) charges are among the most common criminal offenses prosecuted in Pennsylvania. People accused of driving after drinking or causing crashes due to impairment are at risk of various penalties.
Convictions can lead to financial consequences, jail time and a driver’s license suspension. Despite the risks, many people prefer to plead guilty rather than to take their cases to trial. They assume that the state has adequate evidence to convict them, even if they insist that they did not actually break the law.
Prosecutors have to meet a relatively high burden of proof to convict a defendant. They have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they broke the law. What must the prosecutor demonstrate to the courts to convict a driver of a DUI offense?
Clearly impaired driving capabilities
Many DUI cases relate to diminished driving skills. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle when a person is aware that alcohol or other substances may have affected their capabilities.
Drivers under the influence of alcohol have longer reaction times. They often struggle to focus and to make the right decisions in traffic. They may accelerate and slow down sporadically and swerve all over the road.
Witness statements, recordings of phone calls to emergency services by concerned parties and video footage of a driver’s performance at the wheel could help demonstrate that they had impaired ability. Field sobriety test results can also help affirm claims that a driver could not manage a vehicle safely due to intoxication.
Elevated alcohol levels
The law doesn’t just prohibit driving when a motorist recognizes their impairment. It is also a crime in and of itself to drive with an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The current limit that applies in Pennsylvania is 0.08%.
Adults operating standard passenger vehicles are at risk of DUI charges once their BAC reaches 0.08% or higher. Those who have not yet reached their 21st birthdays are subject to a zero-tolerance threshold of 0.02%. Professionals operating commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks and buses, are at risk of a DUI if their BAC reaches 0.04% while on the job.
Depending on the claims made by the prosecutor, there could be several reasonable defense strategies available when facing DUI charges. Reviewing the circumstances leading to an arrest with a skilled legal team could be beneficial for those accused of drunk driving. With the right defense strategy, drivers and their lawyers can raise reasonable doubts about whether they actually committed a DUI offense.
