The Pennsylvania State Police report that they made 357 DUI arrests over the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend spanning Friday to Monday. And of the 808 total car crashes during the Memorial Day travel period, the State Police report that 83 were alcohol-related, including one fatal accident.
However, the actual number of DUIs in the State is likely much higher as the State Police indicated that their reported numbers only reflect DUI arrests made by the State Police and do not include arrests made by other law-enforcement agencies.
The 357 people who were arrested for DUIs by the State Police now face significant penalties. This is because the State takes drunk driving very seriously and has one of the more aggressive DUI laws in the country.
In Pennsylvania’s three-tier DUI penalty system, drivers are punished according to their blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of arrest:
- General impairment DUI (.08 to .099% BAC)
- High BAC DUI (.10 to .159% BAC)
- Highest BAC DUI (.16% and higher BAC)
Under this system, a first time offender for a General Impairment DUI can expect to receive up to six months probation and a $300 fine. In comparison, if that person receives a High BAC DUI, that person faces at least a 12-month driver’s license suspension, 48 hours in jail, and $500 fine. And if that person is convicted of a Highest BAC DUI, that person can expect at least a 12-month driver’s license suspension, 72 hours of imprisonment, and $1000 fine.
For reference, this blood alcohol calculator shows that a 160-pound person would likely have a BAC between .08 and .099% after having four 12-ounce beers. That person would have a BAC between .10 and .159% after five beers, and a BAC above .16% after seven beers.
To learn more about DUI laws and sentencing, visit the Related Resources links below.
Related Resources:
- Find a Philadelphia DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
- Pennsylvania State Police Memorial Day Recap (PSP)
- Pennsylvania DUI Law (FindLaw)
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