DUI ARD Law in Montgomery County

Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, commonly known as ARD, is a pre-trial intervention program set forth by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. The purpose of the ARD program in Montgomery County, PA is to divert certain first-time offenders, including those for DUI, from the PA criminal justice system. ARD provides these offenders with a rehabilitative probation program that often results in expungement of the offense from your criminal record. ARD essentially allows you the chance to wipe your criminal record clean following an arrest for drunk driving or driving under the influence of a controlled substance (DUI) in Montgomery County, PA. The ARD lawyers at The Martin Law Firm are well-versed in the requirements for admission and completion of the Montgomery County ARD program. The Martin Law Firm is an experienced Montgomery County, PA DUI and criminal defense law firm that represents individuals for the resolution of DUI or other criminal charges through the Pennsylvania ARD probation program.

The ARD Program in Montgomery County, PA

If you have been charged with DUI in Montgomery County, PA, you are probably wondering what options, if any, you have. Luckily, if you are a first-time DUI offender in Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for ARD probation. All Pennsylvania counties, including Montgomery County, have local rules that govern the ARD process. You should consult an experienced Montgomery County, PA DUI lawyer as soon as possible following your arrest to determine whether you meet the ARD program requirements and whether ARD is the right approach for resolving your PA DUI charge.

ARD Eligibility Considerations in Montgomery County, PA

Certain conditions can prevent an individual charged with PA DUI from entering the Montgomery County, PA ARD program, and those include the following:

The offender has been found guilty of or accepted Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for a DUI within ten (10) years of the date of the current offense unless the charge was for an ungraded misdemeanor under 75 Pa.C.S. 3802(a)(2) and was the offender’s first offense under 75 Pa.C.S. 3802. Click PA DUI Law to learn more about the DUI statute in PA.

An accident occurred in connection with the events surrounding the current PA DUI offense and an individual other than the offender was killed or suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the accident; or

There was a passenger under 14 years of age in the motor vehicle the offender was operating.

These 3 criteria are only minimum criteria, and a PA District Attorney is free to establish more stringent criteria for recommending offenders into the Pennsylvania ARD program.

Other Consequences

Court Reporting Network (CRN) Evaluation. The CRN evaluation takes 45 minutes to 1 hour and is required for all DUI offenders in Pennsylvania. The purpose of the CRN evaluation is to determine if the individual should be referred for more comprehensive drug and alcohol assessment. More information for Pennsylvania, CRN Evaluation can be found here: https://www.montcopa.org/1203/Court-Reporting-Network-CRN-Evaluation

Alcohol Highway Safety School. The purpose of this 12.5 hour class is to provide individuals with information about drugs and alcohol and their effects on judgment and metabolism, addiction, and highway safety. The cost is $200.00. More information for Pennsylvania, AHSS services can be found here: https://www.montcopa.org/1205/Alcohol-Highway-Safety-School-AHSS.

Drug and Alcohol Assessment. A full drug and alcohol assessment may be court ordered or recommended from the CRN results. More information for Pennsylvania, Drug and Alcohol Treatment can be found here: https://www.montcopa.org/1204/Drug-and-Alcohol-Treatment

Community Service. Individuals may be required to perform up to 150 hours of community service.

ARD Lawyers in Montgomery County, PA

The knowledgeable ARD and DUI lawyers at The Martin Law Firm, located in Montgomery County, PA, represent those charged with DUI, drug possession, and other criminal matters.

Our experienced Montgomery County ARD lawyers have helped many clients successfully enter and complete the Montgomery County ARD program, allowing them to have a fresh start following their arrest. Contact a Montgomery County, PA ARD lawyer today at (215) 646-3980 for a free case evaluation.

 

Please call (215) 646-3980 to schedule an appointment.

Practice Areas

Our legal team provides individualized legal solutions for our clients by offering high quality legal counsel and representation in diverse areas of law. Our attorneys regularly represent clients throughout Southeast Pennsylvania, including Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Philadelphia County

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