How Long Does DUI Conviction Stay on My Record in Pennsylvania?
Reader’s Question:
I was convicted of DUI in Pennsylvania. How long does it stay on my record?
George
Bethlehem, PA
It’s terrible to be convicted with DUI and unfortunately, a DUI in Pennsylvania stays on your driving record for 7 years. Pennsylvania started enforcing a new Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Law in 2003. The new law just created a tiered approach toward DUI enforcement and treatment, by including many changes to the terms of suspension, fines, penalties, and other requirements. This new law focuses on treatment for first-time DUI offenders rather than suspension and punishment.
Strictly speaking, licensing requirements and penalties are determined by the combination of an individual’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level and prior offenses. There are three levels of DUI in Pennsylvania: General Impairment (.08 to .099% BAC), High BAC (.10 to .159% BAC), and Highest BAC (.16% and higher).
You see, under this new law on DUI, school vehicle or bus drivers, commercial drivers, minors, and offenders involved in an accident that causes property damage or injures someone may be subject to the high BAC penalties even if their BAC is not in the high category.
It might be best for you to check on the latest legislation about Pennsylvania to verify the duration your DUI stays on your record since laws on DUI have become more stringent in PA in the last few years.
Teen DUI Car Insurance in Pennsylvania
Reader’s Question:
I am under 18 and I receive a DUI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If I go through the ARD program, will my car insurance go up at all?
John
Philadelphia, PA
They permit for an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for first time DUI offenders in Pennsylvania. When a DUI offender is accepted into an ARD program the state will then suspends their charges however they will require that certain court ordered conditions are met. These conditions may include community service, drug and alcohol counseling, etc. In addition to a probationary program the ARD program requires a period of supervision.
The ARD is a one-time alternative to a conviction, trial, and possible mandatory jail sentence for the conviction of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania. There is a $500 processing fee and you can expect to pay a fine, a fee for alcohol safe driving class, court costs,and a probation supervision fee.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department states that if you are convicted of a DUI, whether or not you complete an ARD program, your license will be revoked or suspended. This alone is a valid reason for insurance providers to increase insurance rates, cancel or non-renew your policy.
Is Your License Suspended And Now Need An SR22?
Q: What is SR22? Is there a reason for suspension for why my license may need to be reinstated?
A: SR22 insurance more than a kind of proof of insurance you need to file after you license has been suspended? There are quite a few ways for this to happen, and one common way is the accumulation of points. Points are added to your driving record whenever you get a ticket, and if you get around six points, then your license will be suspended.
If you have been driving thirty one miles + over the speed limit of a certain stretch of road, and after being pulled over and given a ticket, you don’t show up for your court date, you may also have your license suspended, and SR22 is what you will have to file.
Two more reasons you may be required to file SR22 after a license suspension: if you are convicted of driving under the influence (this will depend on several factors, such as your blood alcohol level and your record), if you have been caught driving uninsured, or if you have, when a school bus as stopped and had its flashing lights and stop signs out, you went past it anyway.
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