Source: https://www.phila-criminal-lawyer.com/criminal-defense-overview/dui-dwi/dui-traffic-stops/
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 07:17:08
Document Index: 557526674

Matched Legal Cases: ['§3802', '§3803', '§ 3802', '§3803', '§ 3802', '§3802', '§3802', '§1547', '§1547']

DUI & Traffic Stops | Philadelphia Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer
Pennsylvania’s Superior Court has issued two very significant DUI decisions. The first ruling was handed down the case of Commonwealth v. Musau. The second decision was presented in Commonwealth v. Barker.
In Musau, the trial court found Musau guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol in violation of 75 Pa. C.S.A. §3802(a) (general impairment), his second offense, and graded the conviction as a first-degree misdemeanor pursuant to 75 Pa C.S.A. §3803(b) (4). The trial court sentenced Musau to 90 days to five years in jail.
On appeal Musau argued there was a conflict between § 3802(a) (which carries a maximum of six months supervision) and §3803(b) (4) (that identifies a violation of § 3802(a), 2nd offense, as a first-degree misdemeanor which carries a potential five years supervision). In light of the statutory conflict, Musau argued his supervision could only be 90 days and not five years. Superior Court agreed.
The lesson here is to specifically ensure any refusal charges §3802(d) are either dismissed or withdrawn at a preliminary hearing in the counties or a finding of not guilty in Philadelphia Municipal Court. Thereafter, the trial court may only, if the evidence is sufficient, find guilty under §3802(a), a general impairment conviction. Sentencing will then be governed by the DUI statute and 90 days, not the Crimes Code.
The second case is Commonwealth v. William Barker. The case began as a garden-variety motor vehicle infraction, typical traffic stop and suspicion of DUI. However, competent counsel convert the case into a discussion of motorists’ right to an alternative blood tests under 75 Pa. C.S.A. §1547(i) and a police officer’s violation of the refusal statute, not the motorist’s.
For those unaware, 75 Pa. C.S.A. §1547 is the Pennsylvania implied consent provision of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code allowing for the police to request the operator of a motor vehicle suspected of DUI to submit to a breathalyzer test or have their blood drawn at an appropriate medical facility. If they refusal the criminal sentence may be worse and at least a one-year license suspension separate from the DUI may follow.