Frequently Asked Questions

No. In Pennsylvania, you will be released and sent a criminal complaint pursuant to Rule 519. You will receive a criminal complaint, an order directing you to get fingerprinted, and a notice for your preliminary hearing.

It usually takes between one and six months, depending on whether there is a blood draw in the case. If they have to wait for blood results, it tends to be around three months. If it is a breath test or a refusal, it should be filed and sent within a month or two.

Absolutely not. Do not call the police inquiring about when it will be filed, and certainly do
not call to apologize. Call a DUI lawyer in your area.

It depends. If you really have no memory of getting pulled over and arrested under suspicion of DUI, it is possible a letter was sent to you in error. This becomes more likely the more common your name is. If you did get pulled over and arrested for DUI, getting the letters means the case has been filed and your paperwork will follow within a week or so.

You have received a fingerprint order directing you when and where to have your fingerprints taken. This is mandatory for everyone charged with a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania. You will also have received a Criminal Complaint listing what charges the police have filed. At the end of that Complaint, there will be an "Affidavit of Probable Cause," which is a narrative written by the police officer explaining what led to the charges.

You should research DUI Lawyers in your area and hire one to represent you. I serve Northeast Pennsylvania, and my office is located in Kingston, PA, Luzerne County.

In a DUI case, you should hire a dedicated DUI Attorney. Look for a practice that handles primarily or exclusively DUI cases. Check if they have completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Field Sobriety Test Training and the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training. Additionally, see if they belong to professional organizations such as the National College for DUI Defense, the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, or the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys. Membership in these organizations and completion of these trainings indicate they know how to properly defend a DUI case.