Law Firm Blog

DUI checkpoints are stationary roadblocks conducted by police officers who make suspicionless stops to check for intoxicated drivers.  If it is determined that a motorist who passes through a DUI checkpoint is intoxicated, he or she will be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances under 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 3802, the PA DUI law.

Pennsylvania drivers should be aware of a new law that will soon go into effect.  The PA Governor signed a new bill, HB 170, into law earlier this month in an effort to make the PA roads safer for bicyclists.  HB 170, also known as the “Safe Passing Bill”, amends PA’s motor vehicle code to increase protections for bike riders. 

A Pennsylvania DUI conviction can have a serious impact on your personal and professional life.  A PA DUI can result in significant DUI penalties, including fines, driver's license suspension and jail.  Due to the severity of the consequences of a DUI conviction, if you have been charged with DUI or a DUI-related offense in Montgomery County, PA, you should seek the assistance of an experienced Montgomery County, PA DUI lawyer as soon as possible.

As a Pennsylvania DUI lawyer, I see a spike in drunk driving arrests each year around this time.  Super Bowl Sunday is notorious for alcohol-related car accidents and traffic fatalities.  As a result, the Pennsylvania State Police as well as local Montgomery County police departments will be out in full force to catch those who opt to drink and drive following the Super Bowl.  Hundreds of extra officers will be patrolling the PA roads and conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the state.

The Super Bowl is America’s most popular national sporting event.  This year, millions of people across the country will gather with friends and family to socialize and watch the game.  Unfortunately, Super Bowl Sunday is also one of Pennsylvania’s most dangerous days on the road as a result of drunk driving. 

Pennsylvania's new teen driver law, also known as "Lacey's Law," has gone into effect statewide as of December 27, 2011.  Lacey’s Law is named for a Philadelphia teenager who was killed in 2007 in a crash on the PA Turnpike while she was riding with six other teenagers on prom night.  The car lost control in dense fog, killing Lacey and injuring the other teenagers.  Authorities say no alcohol was involved in the crash.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Montgomery County Prothonotary's office has increased its filing fees for civil lawsuits.  The Montgomery County, PA Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and is responsible for recording all civil procedures before the court.  The Office of the Prothonotary is responsible for the recording and filing of legal papers in several areas of law, including divorce, child custody, protection from abuse, judgments, driver's license suspension appeals, District Justice appeals and mechanics liens. 

A new law to ban texting while driving throughout the state of Pennsylvania has been signed into law by Governor Tom Corbett.  The PA governor has been an outspoken critic of texting while driving, and stated during a bill-signing event, “No text message is worth a human life.  The message of this legislation is to drive now and text later.”

The Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee has approved a proposed PA DUI bill that would require first-time DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles.  The bill, Senate Bill 1184, is sponsored by Montgomery County Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. 

Now that autumn has arrived and the holidays are approaching, the topic of DUI cases invariably arises among our friends, family and clients.  In the coming weeks, we will address a series of common issues and questions that we are often asked regarding drunk driving cases in Pennsylvania.