A Bittner Attorney

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Western PA DUI Attorney
If you have been stopped for any drunk driving offense in Pennsylvania, such as DUI, DAI, or repeat offender drunk driving, contact the experienced Pittsburgh DUI defense lawyers at the Joyce & Bittner law firm.
Pennsylvania drunk driving laws are continually increasing in both severity and complexity, and our DUI attorneys have the experience and understanding of the law necessary to attempt to minimize your criminal exposure and attempt to protect your ability to drive. Driving under the Influence cases are often a two prong battle, with an attorney needing to be keenly aware of both the criminal penalties as well as the potential for loss of the accused's driving privilege. We will work to try to eliminate or minimize both.
The current Pennsylvania DUI law is the harshest the legislature has yet enacted. However a possibility exists for those charged with their first DUI offense to avoid trial and have the charges dropped as a result of the successful completion of the ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition) program.
Keep in mind penalties for DUI conviction can be tough. If you are convicted of a DUI, penalties and mandatory sentences are based primarily on two key factors:

Blood alcohol content. This is based on the test result of the blood or breath. Refusal of the test will be counted against those charged with a DUI.
The number of prior DUI convictions (in Pennsylvania or any other state) in the mandatory 10 year look back period.

In defending our clients on DUI Alcohol or Drug charges we stress a unified approach. After carefully reviewing the facts and law with you, we will discuss the possible outcomes and what goals are most important to you. In some cases a DUI case client will want to minimize the chances of doing jail time and want to pursue a negotiated plea for home detention or alternative housing for the sentence. Other clients - such as commercial truck drivers - view the potential loss of driving privilege as the number one concern and seek a trial. We will discuss all aspects of the DUI case with you and what your best options are.
Contrary to the common opinion of police and a general public perception, DUI cases can be successfully defended. An arrest for Drunk Driving does not have to mean conviction. With knowledge gained from over 25 years of legal experience including the former prosecution experience and governmental experience of our attorneys, in defending DUI cases in Pennsylvania we will pursue any and all issues legally available including:

Legality of the checkpoint in roadblock cases designed to catch Drunk Driving suspects
Probable cause for the stop of the vehicle in DUI cases
Whether there is sufficient proof of driving or "immediate physical control of the vehicle"
Whether or not there is sufficient proof of "being under the influence" to the degree required
The validity and admissibility of blood, breath or other tests in the DUI prosecution
The prior convictions that can or should be counted against those with DUI charges
Use of forensic experts to assist in defending against blood test or breath test results, by challenging either the reliability or meaning of the results in the circumstances of that particular DUI case.

Any favorable evidence we can find on these points could potentially lead to the dismissal of the DUI charges against you, or at least help achieve a negotiated resolution ("plea bargain") on more favorable terms.
Many, many people have faced Driving Under the Influence charges in Pennsylvania. Our clients have included lawyers, doctors, salespeople, and other professionals. For many years we have defended both those with their first DUI offense and repeat violators of the DUI laws. The key is in our experience and thorough preparation in each case, working to achieve the best result for that individual client.
Our objective in all of our criminal defense work for clients is to protect your interests by minimizing your criminal liability exposure. Whether the facts of your case indicate a defense strategy based on suppression of the evidence, negotiation toward a lesser offense or alternative sentencing, or a collateral attack on prior convictions, we have the experience and understanding of Pennsylvania DUI law that can lead us to the most effective DUI defense available under the facts of your case.
For further information and a free consultation, contact the Pittsburgh DUI defense attorneys at Joyce & Bittner.

Our attorneys each have over 25 years of legal experience. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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