PENNSYLVANIA'S ARD PROGRAM
How to Get Into the ARD Program After a DUI
If you've been charged with a DUI or criminal offense, you're probably wanting to stay out of jail, avoid having a criminal record, and to minimize financial and other consequences.
Can You Avoid a Conviction Altogether?
Our DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers may be able to help you avoid a conviction by:
- Persuading the police and prosecution not to file charges in the first place;
- Persuading the police and prosecution to withdraw all charges;
- Persuading a magisterial judge at a preliminary hearing to dismiss all charges;
- Getting evidence suppressed (thrown out) leading to the dismissal of charges;
- Obtaining a "not guilty" verdict at trial; or
- Getting you admitted into the ARD Program.
What is the ARD Program?
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or ARD for short is a fantastic program that Attorney Travis may be able to gain your entry into, for a DUI or other non-violent criminal offense. It is generally a one-time opportunity which means if you have had a prior ARD admittance, you likely will not be eligible to gain entry into the program on new DUI or criminal charges. One important exception is if ten (10) or more years have passed since your last ARD admittance, Attorney Travis may be able to get you into the ARD program again.
ARD is a non-conviction disposition.
Attorney Travis tells our clients that he will do all of the talking during court hearings. Our clients never plead guilty. In DUI cases, ARD typically includes probation for twelve (12) months or less, completion of DUI Safe Training classes, court costs and a short drivers license suspension. We also regularly win entry into ARD for our clients in Boating Under the Influence (BUI) cases. In these cases, your driver’s license is not suspended. A suspension of watercraft operation privileges is imposed instead.
Once you complete the ARD program, you earn full expungement of your record in relation to that case.
The notation of criminal arrest and fingerprint records, and all photograhs are “wiped clean” from your record. This can be a career-saver for many people including young students in college, nurses, teachers, medical doctors, licensed professionals, people who need a clean record for government clearances, and the like. Each county in Pennsylvania has different rules that apply to the ARD program. Attorney Travis regularly wins entry into ARD for our clients in the counties of Erie, Crawford, Warren, McKean, Forest and Venango. Admission into the ARD program is completely at the discretion of the District Attorney (prosecutor), so it is critical that you hire Attorney Grant C. Travis to represent you in your case.
Can the ARD Program be Used for Criminal Charges?
Contact Our DUI Defense Lawyers
Avoid jail time, a criminal record, fines and other consequences of a DUI conviction. See if your DUI Case is eligible for admission into Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program.
Asking for a Lawyer at a DUI Stop
Asking for a lawyer at a DUI stop may not be granted. The difference between being stopped for drunk driving or caught in a DUI stop is that the individual is not always arrested on the spot or read their Miranda Rights. However, in many instances, the police officer does not need to question the person and relies on evidence such as what is recorded on a dash cam.
At the scene, the officer may record dialogue they had with the suspected drunk driver, his or her actions when tested to show an elevated alcohol level or a Breathalyzer test is administered. The officer does not need to read the Miranda Rights to do these.
Six Criminal Defense Myths
Over time, myths develop in any discipline, including criminal law. Some of these myths might even be harmful and cause significant pain if taken seriously. In fact, they can affect the outcome of your case and make things more stressful for the accused and their family. Let’s take a look at some common myths associated with criminal law.
Is Insurance Coverage Important in a Personal Injury Case?
Insurance coverage is an important factor in a personal injury claim, especially in Pennsylvania. In the first place, Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. Second, knowing that insurance coverage is available makes it reasonably certain that if a case is resolved in your favor, you will be paid. Without this coverage, an injured party may have to pay for all damages out of their own pocket. Since this is impossible for many people in the state, we need to become familiar with the types of and need for insurance coverage.
* THE TRAVIS LAW FIRM, P.C., only handles cases involving Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers’ Compensation, DUI, and Criminal Defense.
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