In Pennsylvania, most DUIs will be graded as a misdemeanor and will carry stiff penalties that include the suspension of your driving privileges upon conviction. How long your suspension lasts will depend on your driving record, whether you have any prior DUI convictions, and how high your BAC was found to be by police. For example, a first offender found to have from a .10 to .159 BAC will have their license suspended for 1 year after a guilty plea or finding. You may be able to get an Occupational Limited License –or OLL, from the DOT so that you can still drive to and from your job. Specific conditions and timeframes apply, and you should contact a qualified DUI attorney for more information on obtaining one as soon as possible. If you refused to take a chemical blood alcohol or breath test after arrest, then Pennsylvania law mandates that your driver’s license be automatically suspended for 12 months. This is a civil suspension of your driving privileges which is independent of your DUI case outcome. After refusal, you cannot apply for an OLL. In addition, if you are convicted or plead guilty, you will also be penalized with the criminal suspension associated with your charges. Please visit our Refusal page for more specific information regarding your rights. The best strategy to avoid any license suspension time is to hire a qualified and experienced DUI attorney to successfully fight your charges. Many counties in Pennsylvania have a program for certain first time offenders called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, or ARD. If your attorney gets the DA to accept you into the program, your license suspension will be reduced significantly; anywhere from no suspension to 60 days. Tibbott & Richardson 1040 Fifth Avenue, Fourth Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 444-7171 https://www.tibbottrichardson.com/