Driving in Bucks County this Labor Day Weekend?
Learn about increased DUI enforcement, DUI stops, checkpoints and Pennsylvania DUI laws.
Labor Day Weekend DUI Enforcement: What Pennsylvania Drivers Need to Know
Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer—a time for cookouts, parties, concerts, festivals and gatherings with family and friends.
It’s also a time when drivers can expect increased DUI enforcement on Pennsylvania roads.
Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement agencies are stepping up impaired-driving enforcement leading into and throughout Labor Day Weekend.
Whether you’re heading to a backyard barbecue, meeting friends for dinner or enjoying one last summer getaway, make your plans before the celebration begins. If you drink or use anything that could impair your ability to drive, don’t get behind the wheel.
DUI Enforcement Isn’t Just About Alcohol
When most people think about DUI, they think about drinking and driving. But Pennsylvania DUI laws apply to more than alcohol.
A driver may face DUI charges involving:
Even legally prescribed medications can become an issue if police believe they have impaired your ability to safely operate a vehicle.
And marijuana presents a particular concern for Pennsylvania drivers. Having a valid Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card does not protect you from being charged with DUI.
What Can You Expect This Labor Day Weekend?
Drivers should be prepared for increased police presence on Pennsylvania roads during the holiday weekend.
Enforcement efforts may include sobriety checkpoints as well as roving DUI patrols.
At a sobriety checkpoint, police systematically stop vehicles at a predetermined location to briefly observe drivers for signs commonly associated with alcohol or drug impairment.
Roving patrols operate differently. Police officers actively patrol roadways looking for driving behavior or other circumstances that may give them a reason to initiate a traffic stop and investigate possible impairment.
What If You’re Stopped on Suspicion of DUI?
Being pulled over can be stressful—especially when an officer begins asking questions about where you’ve been, whether you’ve been drinking or whether you’ve taken any medications or drugs.
Remember that what happens during a DUI stop may later become important to your defense.
Police may observe your speech, behavior, appearance and movements. Depending on the circumstances, an officer may also ask you to perform field sobriety tests or take a preliminary breath test.
Understanding your rights and obligations during a DUI investigation is important.
A DUI Arrest Is Not a DUI Conviction
If your Labor Day Weekend ends with a DUI arrest, don’t assume that a conviction is inevitable.
Every DUI case is different.
The circumstances surrounding the traffic stop, the officer’s observations, field sobriety testing, chemical testing and other evidence should be carefully reviewed.
There may be questions about whether police had a lawful reason to stop your vehicle, whether proper procedures were followed, whether testing was conducted correctly and whether the evidence supports the charges against you.
Before pleading guilty, talk with an experienced Pennsylvania DUI defense attorney about your case and the options that may be available to you.
First DUI? You May Be Eligible for ARD!
If this is your first DUI offense, you may be eligible for Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program.
ARD is a pretrial diversionary program that may be available to certain first-time offenders. Successful completion can provide significant benefits and may ultimately allow you to have the charges expunged from your criminal record.
However, admission into ARD is not automatic, and the program may not be the best option in every case.
An experienced DUI defense attorney can review the facts of your case and help you understand your options.
Charged With DUI This Labor Day Weekend?
If you’ve been arrested for DUI, you don’t have to face the process alone.
For more than 40 years, Bucks County DUI defense attorney Keith J. Williams has defended people accused of DUI and other criminal offenses.
Keith personally handles every case and provides a defense strategy based on the individual circumstances of each client. He will aggressively fight for your rights, work to protect your driver’s license, keep you out of jail, and reduce or eliminate other penalties you may be facing.
Don’t Plead Guilty Without Knowing Your Options
A DUI charge can threaten your driver’s license, your freedom, your finances and your future. The decisions you make after an arrest matter.
Before pleading guilty to a DUI, talk with Keith J. Williams about your case and learn what options may be available to you.
Call Keith J. Williams Law for a FREE Confidential DUI Consultation at 215-340-1134!
Wishing You a Safe & Happy Labor Day!
Labor Day Weekend is a time to enjoy family, friends and the unofficial end of summer. If your plans include alcohol, marijuana or other substances that could impair your ability to drive, plan ahead for a safe ride home.
Even with the best intentions, however, DUI arrests happen.
If you or someone you care about is charged with DUI over Labor Day Weekend, don’t assume that an arrest means a conviction. The circumstances surrounding the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, chemical testing and other evidence may all be important to your case.
Keith J. Williams has more than 40 years of experience representing people charged with DUI in Bucks County. He can explain the charges you’re facing, review the circumstances of your arrest and help you understand the defense strategies, ARD eligibility or other options that may be available.
