Lexis Nexis LexisNexis Practice Guide: Pennsylvania DUI Law
This publication is a practical guide for prosecutors and defense attorneys handling DUI cases in Pennsylvania.
Publisher: Matthew Bender Elite Products
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This publication was authored by a prominent defense attorney and former prosecutor. These two individuals bring a wealth of experience and practical expertise from both the prosecution and defense side of the practice to the issues addressed in the book. This publication is intended to be a comprehensive practice guide for attorneys handling DUI cases in Pennsylvania. The book is designed for both prosecutor and defense attorneys who practice criminal law, with a specific focus on DUI cases, in Pennsylvania.
• Practice pointers that suggest ways to improve results for your clients
• A comprehensive Table of Contents that helps practitioners to spot issues
• Annual updates will be available to keep the publication current
• An authoritative guide and index to look up unfamiliar issues.
• References to applicable statutes and caselaw
• Practice pointers that suggest ways to improve results for your clients
• A comprehensive Table of Contents that helps practitioners to spot issues
• Annual updates will be available to keep the publication current
• An authoritative guide and index to look up unfamiliar issues.
• References to applicable statutes and caselaw
Table of Contents
Chapter One – Elements of DUI
1.01 The Elements of DUI – Controlling Law
1.02 Drive, Operate, Actual Physical Control
1.03 Vehicle
1.04 Highway or Trafficway
1.05 General Impairment
1.05[1] General Impairment – Alcohol
1.05[2] General Impairment – Drugs
1.05[3] General Impairment – Prescription Drugs
1.05[4] General Impairment – Non-prescription Drugs
1.05[5] General Impairment – Alcohol and Drugs
1.05[6] General Impairment – Inhalants
1.06 Per Se Violations
1.06[1] Per Se Violations – Alcohol
1.06[1][a] Breath Testing
1.06[1][b] Blood Testing
1.06[2] The "Two Hour Rule" and Exceptions
1.06[3] Per Se Violations – Controlled Substances
1.07 Underage DUI
1.08 School and Commercial Vehicles
Chapter Two – Grading
2.01 Grading of DUI Charges – Controlling Law
2.01[1] General Considerations
2.02 Prior Offenses
2.02[1] Prior Offenses – Ten Year "Look Back"
2.02[2] Prior Offenses – Effective Dates – ARD Revocation
2.02[3] Prior Offenses – Out of State Offenses
2.03 Specific Grading Provisions
2.03[1] General Impairment – Alcohol
2.03[2] General Impairment – Alcohol – Accident
2.03[3] High Rate of Alcohol – Results Between .10 and .159%
2.03[4] Highest Rate of Alcohol – .16% and Above – Drugs
2.03[5] Minors and Commercial or School Vehicles
2.03[6] Refusal to Submit to Testing
Chapter Three – DUI-Related Charges
3.01 Other Related Offenses – Controlling Law
3.02 DUS/DUI
3.02[1] 1543(b) – DUS/DUI – General Considerations
3.02[2] DUS/DUI – County Intermediate Punishment (CIP)
3.02[3] DUS/DUI – Evidentiary Issues – Generally
3.02[4] DUS/DUI – Actual Notice of Suspension
3.02[5] DUS/DUI – Effective Date of DUI Suspension – Multiple Suspensions
3.03 DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs
3.03[1] 1543(b)(1.1) – DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – General Considerations
3.03[2] DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – Alcohol Consumption – Proof
3.03[3] DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – Drug Consumption – Proof
3.03[4] DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – Test Refusal – Proof
3.03[5] DUS/DUI After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – Grading and Penalties
3.04 Boating Under the Influence
3.04[1] Boating Under the Influence – General Considerations
3.04[2] Alcohol Boating Under the Influence
3.04[2][a] Alcohol Boating Under the Influence – General Impairment
3.04[2][b] Alcohol Boating Under the Influence – Per Se Offenses
3.04[2][c] Drug Boating Under the Influence – General Impairment
3.04[2][d] Drug Boating Under the Influence – Per Se Offenses
3.04[2][e] Boating Under the Influence General Impairment – Alcohol and Drugs
3.04[2][f] Boating Under the Influence General Impairment – Inhalants
3.04[2][g] Boating Under the Influence Grading, Penalties, Disposition
3.05 Flying While Impaired
3.05[1] Flying While Impaired – General Considerations
3.05[1][a] Crew Liability
3.05[2] Chemical Testing
3.05[2][a] Chemical Testing – Pre-arrest
3.05[2][b] Chemical Testing – Post-arrest
3.05[3] Flying While Impaired – Penalties
3.06 Specific Violations
3.06[1] Ignition Interlock Violations – General Considerations
3.06[2] Specific Violations
3.06[2][a] Specific Violations – Driving Without Interlock
3.06[2][b Specific Violations – Driving Without Interlock – Alcohol or Drugs
3.06[2][c] Specific Violations – Tampering with Interlock System
3.06[3] License Suspension for Violations Committed During Interlock Restriction
3.07 Occupational Limited License
3.07[1] Occupational Limited License (OLL) Violations – General Considerations
3.07[2] OLL Violations – Penalties
Chapter Four – Arrest Issues
4.01 Arrest Issues – Controlling Law
4.01[1] Arrest Issues – General Considerations
4.02 Arrest Issues – Initial Contact
4.02[1] Initial Contact – Mere Encounters
4.02[2] Initial Contact – Checkpoints – Constitutional Issues
4.02[2][a] "Safety" or Equipment Checkpoints
4.02[2][b] Practical Issues and Challenges – Generally
4.02[2][c] "Brief but Trained Observation of a Vehicle's Driver"
4.02[2][d] "Made Knowable in Advance"
4.02[2][e] "Route…Likely to be Travelled by Intoxicated Drivers"
4.02[2][f] Staffing Issues
4.02[2][g] Checkpoint Avoidance
4.02[3] Initial Contact – Reasonable Suspicion Traffic Stops
4.02[4] Initial Contact – Probable Cause Traffic Stops
4.03 Accidents
4.03[1] Accidents – General Considerations
4.03[2] Accidents – Probable Cause – Driving/Operation/Actual Physical Control
4.03[3] Accidents – Probable Cause – Impairment
4.04 Arrest Powers and Jurisdiction
4.04[1] Arrest Powers and Jurisdiction – General Considerations
4.04[1][a] Arrest Powers and Jurisdiction – Sheriffs and Their Deputies
4.04[2] Arrest Powers and Jurisdiction – Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act (MPJA)
4.04[2][a] MPJA – Hot and Fresh Pursuit – Probable Cause
4.04[2][b] MPJA – Requests for Extraterritorial Assistance
4.04[2][c] MPJA – Prior Consent
4.04[2][d] MPJA – Officers on Official Business Outside Their Jurisdiction
4.05 Pre-Arrest Testing – Overview
4.05[1] Pre – Arrest Testing – Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)
4.05[1][a] Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
4.05[1][b] Walk and Turn/One Leg Stand
4.05[1][c] Pre-Arrest Breath Test – PBT
4.05[1][d] DRE Evaluation
Chapter Five – Evidentiary Issues
5.01 Evidentiary Issues – Controlling Law
5.02 Post Arrest Chemical Testing – Breath Testing – General Considerations
5.02[1] Breath Testing – Approved Devices
5.02[2] Breath Testing - Procedures
5.02[2][a] Breath Testing – Procedures – 20 Minute Observation
5.02[2][b] Breath Testing – Procedures – Test Requirements
5.02[2][c] Breath Testing – Procedures – Inadequate Samples
5.02[2][d] Breath Testing – Procedures – Accuracy Inspections and Calibration
5.02[2][d][1] Accuracy Inspections and Calibration – Confrontation
5.02[2][e] Breath Testing – Procedures – Simulator Solution/Ampoules
5.02[2][f] Breath Testing – Procedures – Qualified Person[s]
5.03 Post Arrest Chemical Testing – Alcohol Blood Testing – General Considerations
5.03[1] Blood Testing – Alcohol – "Whole Blood"
5.03[1][a] Blood Testing – Alcohol – Serum/Plasma Conversion
5.03[1][b] Blood Testing – Alcohol – Supernatant Conversion
5.03[1][c] Blood Testing – Alcohol – Margin of Error/Uncertainty
5.03[1][d] Blood Testing – Alcohol – Confrontation
5.03[1][e] Blood Testing – Alcohol – Chain of Custody
5.04 Post Arrest Chemical Testing – Blood Testing for Drugs – General Considerations
5.04[1] Blood Testing for Drugs – General Principles of Toxicology
5.04[2] Blood Testing for Drugs – Screening/Confirmation
5.04[3] Blood Testing for Drugs – Serum/Plasma
5.04[4] Blood Testing for Drugs – Minimum Levels
5.04[5] Blood Testing for Drugs – Synthetic or "Designer" Drugs
5.05 Post Arrest Chemical Testing – Urine – General Considerations
5.05[1] Urine Testing – Screening/Confirmation
5.05[2] Urine Testing – Limitations of Confirmatory Results
5.06 Post Arrest Chemical Testing – Independent Testing – Requesting Alternative Tests
5.06[1] Independent Testing – Independent Analysis
5.07 Search Warrants for Hospital/Medical Records – Medical Blood Draws
5.07[1] Search Warrants for Hospital/Medical Records – Independent Source
5.08 Admissions – Miranda – General Principles
5.08[1] Admissions – Miranda – Traffic Stops
5.08[2] Admissions – Miranda – Accidents
Chapter Six – Implied Consent/Refusals
6.01 Implied Consent/Refusals – Controlling Law
6.01[1] Implied Consent/Refusals – General Considerations
6.02 Implied Consent/Refusal – Constitutional Law
6.02[1] Implied Consent/Refusals – Constitutional Principles Pre-McNeely
6.02[2] Implied Consent/Refusals – Constitutional Principles – Missouri v. McNeely
6.03 Implied Consent/Refusals – Statutory Provisions
6.03[1] Implied Consent/Refusals – Statutory Provisions – Section 1547
6.03[2] Implied Consent/Refusals – Statutory Provisions – Section 3755
6.04 Implied Consent/Refusals – Actual Consent
6.05 Implied Consent/Refusals – License Suspension Appeals – General Considerations
6.05[1] License Suspension Appeals – Arrest
6.05[1][a] License Suspension Appeals – Reasonable Grounds
6.05[2] License Suspension Appeals – Refusal Defined
6.05[2][a] Refusal Defined – Failure to Sign Forms
6.05[2][b] Refusal Defined – Questions Causing Delay
6.05[2][c] Refusal Defined – Silence or Ambiguous Response
6.05[2][d] Refusal Defined – Breath Testing Irregularities
6.05[2][e] Refusal Defined – Request for Alternate Test
6.05[3] License Suspension Appeals – Police Warnings
6.05[4] License Suspension Appeals – Driver's Burden – General Considerations
6.05[4][a] Driver's Burden – Physical Incapacity
6.05[4][b] Driver's Burden – Unknowing or Otherwise Incompetent
Chapter Seven – Discovery and Pre-Trial Motions – Sample Forms
Chapter Eight – Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)
8.01 ARD – Controlling Law
8.01[1] ARD – General Considerations
8.02 ARD Eligibility
8.02[1] ARD – Statutory Eligibility
8.02[2] ARD – Prosecutorial Discretion – Eligibility
8.03 ARD – Other Considerations
8.03[1] ARD – Application Requirements – Statutory
8.03[2] ARD – Program Conditions – Statutory
8.03[3] ARD – Program Conditions – Court-imposed
8.04 ARD – License Suspension
8.05 ARD – Dismissal and Expungement
8.05[1] ARD – Dismissal and Expungement – Court Records
8.05[2] ARD – Expungement – PennDOT Records
Chapter Nine – Trial Checklist
Chapter Ten – Witnesses
10.01 Witnesses – Controlling Law
10.02 Prosecution Witnesses
10.02[1] Prosecution Witnesses – General Considerations
10.02[2] Prosecution Witnesses – Lay Opinion – Alcohol Impairment
10.02[3] Prosecution Witnesses – Lay Opinion – Drug Impairment
10.02[3][a] Lay Opinion – Drug Impairment – ARIDE
10.03 Prosecution Witnesses – DRE – General Considerations and Background
10.03[1] DRE – Lay Opinion Testimony
10.03[2] DRE – Expert Testimony – Practical Considerations
10.03[3] DRE – The Evaluation Process
10.04 Prosecution Witnesses – Expert Testimony – Drug Toxicology
Chapter Eleven – Sentencing
11.01 Sentencing Issues – Controlling Law
11.02 Sentencing Issues – Other Considerations
11.02[1] Sentencing Issues – Tiers and Grading
11.02[2] Sentencing Issues – Court Reporting Network (CRN) Evaluation
11.02[3] Sentencing Issues – Drug and Alcohol Assessment
11.03 Sentencing Issues – Other Offenses
11.03[1] Sentencing Issues – Tier One Offenses
11.03[1][a] Sentencing Issues – Tier One Offenses – Alcohol Only
11.03[1][b] Sentencing Issues – Tier Two Offenses – Alcohol Only
11.03[1][c] Sentencing Issues – Tier Three Offenses – Refusals – Alcohol/Drugs
11.03[1][d] Sentencing Issues – (M1) Child in Car Enhancement
11.03[1][e] Sentencing Issues – Restitution
11.04 Additional Requirements
11.04[1] Additional Requirements – Alcohol Highway Safety School (AHSS)
11.04[2] Additional Requirements – License Suspension
11.04[3] Additional Requirements – Ignition Interlock
11.04[3][a] Ignition Interlock – Economic Hardship Exemption
11.04[3][b] Ignition Interlock – Employment Exemption
11.05 Other Sentencing Issues
11.05[1] Other Sentencing Issues – Place of Confinement – Discretionary
11.05[2] Other Sentencing Issues – Credit for Time Served – Drug and Alcohol Treatment
11.05[3] Other Sentencing Issues – Credit for Time Served – Pre-Trial Monitoring
11.05[4] Other Sentencing Issues – County Intermediate Punishment (CIP)
11.05[5] Other Sentencing Issues – Pa. Sentencing Guidelines
11.05[6] Other Sentencing Issues – Flat Sentences
11.05[7] Other Sentencing Issues – State Sentences
11.05[7][a] Other Sentencing Issues – State Sentences – RRRI
11.05[7][b] Other Sentencing Issues – State Sentences – State Intermediate Punishment
