The Office of the Impaired Driver Program is responsible for the Court mandated supervision of adults who have been sentenced for the offense of Driving Under the Influence (DUI).  Within the Office of the Impaired Driver Program is the DUI/ARD Unit and the Electronic Monitoring Unit.

 

Under Act 24's tiered penalty scheme, Driving Under the Influence can be an ungraded Misdemeanor, an M-2 or M-1 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Section 3802 of the PA Vehicle Code) Repeat offenders at the highest blood alcohol concentration can receive a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison. Individuals charged with this offense have several options available such as applying for ARD, pleading guilty, or requesting a trial by Judge or Jury. There are a number of sentencing outcomes which include placement on ARD, probation, jail time, and intermediate punishment with house arrest.

 

ARD is a pre-trial diversion option that is only available to first time offenders. An application for ARD is available by contacting the Office of the District Attorney. Conditions of ARD include up to a three month license suspension, community service, fines, costs, attendance at an Alcohol Highway Safety School and Drug and Alcohol counseling and treatment.

 

Only a first offense at the lowest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) entails no jail time. For all other BACs, sentences vary between 48 hours and 1 year minimums. Additionally, there is a one year loss of license, fines, costs, attendance in an Alcohol Highway Safety School and Drug and Alcohol treatment. Being found guilty as a result of a trial by Judge or jury carries similar penalties.

 

This sentencing option is available to some second and subsequent DUI offenders. After serving a minimal jail sentence the client will be monitored electronically to insure that (s)he remains in the residence at all times. Fines, costs and community service are also required. Additionally, Act 24 mandates the completion of Drug and Alcohol treatment.

 

The Program Director also acts as the DUI Coordinator. In this capacity he is a member of the statewide consortium that maintains the quality and consistency of DUI program standards. Additionally, staff members maintain memberships in two professional organizations, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Probation, Parole and Corrections. These memberships give the department timely access to changes in legislation and other trends in PA related to Driving Under the Influence.