2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 75 - VEHICLES › Chapter 38 - Driving After Imbibing Alcohol or Utilizing Drugs › Section 3804 - Penalties

§ 3804. Penalties.
(a) General impairment.--
Except as set forth in subsection (b) or (c), an individual who violates section 3802(a) (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) undergo a mandatory minimum term of six months' probation;
(ii) pay a fine of $300;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 (relating to drug and alcohol assessments) and 3815 (relating to mandatory sentencing).
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment for not less than five days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $2,500;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than ten days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(b) High rate of blood alcohol; minors; commercial vehicles and school buses and school vehicles; accidents.--
Except as set forth in subsection (c), an individual who violates section 3802(a)(1) where there was an accident resulting in bodily injury, serious bodily injury or death of any person or damage to a vehicle or other property or who violates section 3802(b), (e) or (f) shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 48 consecutive hours;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 30 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $750 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(3) For a third offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 90 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $10,000; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(4) For a fourth or subsequent offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than one year;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $10,000; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(c) Incapacity; highest blood alcohol; controlled substances.--
An individual who violates section 3802(a)(1) and refused testing of breath under section 1547 (relating to chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance) or testing of blood pursuant to a valid search warrant or an individual who violates section 3802(c) or (d) shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 72 consecutive hours;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than 90 days;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $1,500;
(iii) attend an alcohol highway safety school approved by the department; and
(iv) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, to:
(i) undergo imprisonment of not less than one year;
(ii) pay a fine of not less than $2,500; and
(iii) comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(c.1) Violation involving minor occupant.--
An individual who violates section 3803(b)(5) (relating to grading), in addition to any penalty imposed in this chapter, shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) For a first offense, to:
(i) pay a fine of not less than $1,000; and
(ii) complete 100 hours of community service.
(2) For a second offense, to:
(i) pay a fine of not less than $2,500; and
(ii) undergo imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than six months.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, undergo imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than two years.
(c.2) Consecutive sentence.--
A sentence imposed upon an individual under this section who has two or more prior offenses shall be served consecutively to any other sentence the individual is serving and to any other sentence being then imposed by the court, except for those with which the offense must merge as a matter of law.
(c.3) Sentencing enhancement.--
The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, under 42 Pa.C.S. § 2154 (relating to adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a sentencing enhancement for a violation of section 3802(a)(1) where the individual refused testing of breath or chemical testing pursuant to a valid search warrant, court order or any other basis permissible by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Pennsylvania or for a violation of section 3802(c) or (d) and where the individual has four or more prior offenses.
(d) Extended supervision of court.--
If a person is sentenced pursuant to this chapter and, after the initial assessment required by section 3814(1), the person is determined to be in need of additional treatment pursuant to section 3814(2), the judge shall impose a minimum sentence as provided by law and a maximum sentence equal to the statutorily available maximum. A sentence to the statutorily available maximum imposed pursuant to this subsection may, in the discretion of the sentencing court, be ordered to be served in a county prison, notwithstanding the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9762 (relating to sentencing proceeding; place of confinement).
(e) Suspension of operating privileges upon conviction.--
(1) The department shall suspend the operating privilege of an individual under paragraph (2) upon receiving a certified record of the individual's conviction of or an adjudication of delinquency for:
(i) an offense under section 3802; or
(ii) an offense which is substantially similar to an offense enumerated in section 3802 reported to the department under Article III of the compact in section 1581 (relating to Driver's License Compact).
(2) Suspension under paragraph (1) shall be in accordance with the following:
(i) Except as provided for in subparagraph (iii), 12 months for an ungraded misdemeanor or misdemeanor of the second degree under this chapter.
(ii) 18 months for a misdemeanor of the first degree or felony of the second or third degree under this chapter.
(iii) There shall be no suspension for an ungraded misdemeanor under section 3802(a) where the person is subject to the penalties provided in subsection (a) and the person has no prior offense.
(iv) For suspensions imposed under paragraph (1)(ii), notwithstanding any provision of law or enforcement agreement to the contrary, all of the following apply:
(A) Suspensions shall be in accordance with Subchapter D of Chapter 15 (relating to the Driver's License Compact).
(B) In calculating the term of a suspension for an offense that is substantially similar to an offense enumerated in section 3802, the department shall presume that if the conduct reported had occurred in this Commonwealth then the person would have been convicted under section 3802(a)(2).
(v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or enforcement agreement to the contrary, the department shall suspend the operating privilege of a driver for six months upon receiving a certified record of a consent decree granted under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) based on section 3802.
(f) Community service assignments.--
In addition to the penalties set forth in this section, the sentencing judge may impose up to 150 hours of community service. Where the individual has been ordered to drug and alcohol treatment pursuant to sections 3814 and 3815, the community service shall be certified by the drug and alcohol treatment program as consistent with any drug and alcohol treatment requirements imposed under sections 3814 and 3815.
(f.1) Victim impact panels.--
(1) In addition to any other penalty imposed under this section, the court may order a person who violates section 3802 to attend a victim impact panel program.
(2) A victim impact panel program shall provide a nonconfrontational forum for driving under the influence crash victims, their family members, their friends or other pertinent persons to speak to driving under the influence offenders about the impact of the crash on victims' lives and on the lives of families, friends and neighbors.
(3) A victim impact panel shall be administrated through the local office of probation and parole or other office as the court shall determine and shall be operated in consultation with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Pennsylvania State Organization.
(4) A victim impact panel program may assess a reasonable participation fee to achieve program self-sufficiency but may not operate for profit. The department shall establish an acceptable range of fees.
(5) The department shall develop standards and incentives to encourage counties to establish victim impact panel programs. In developing these standards, the department shall establish and chair a coordinating committee among pertinent agencies and organizations, including the Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Office of Victim Advocate, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, county officials, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Pennsylvania State Organization and the Pennsylvania DUI Association. The standards shall address items including all of the following:
(i) Prototype design and structure standards for victim impact panels.
(ii) Training standards and curricula for presenters, facilitators and administrators.
(iii) Operations policy and guidelines manual.
(iv) Evaluation standards, design and structure allowing for the tracking and analysis of recidivism data.
(v) Standards for counseling and debriefing activities for victim presenters.
(vi) Standards for reimbursing reasonable costs to victims for participation in panels.
(vii) Assistance to counties through coordinating potential Federal and State funding streams to carry out this subsection and to assist counties as may be needed.
(g) Sentencing guidelines.--
The sentencing guidelines promulgated by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing shall not supersede the mandatory penalties of this section.
(h) Appeal.--
The Commonwealth has the right to appeal directly to the Superior Court any order of court which imposes a sentence for violation of this section which does not meet the requirements of this section. The Superior Court shall remand the case to the sentencing court for imposition of a sentence in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(i) First class cities.--
Notwithstanding the provision for direct appeal to the Superior Court, if, in a city of the first class, a person appeals from a judgment of sentence under this section from the municipal court to the common pleas court for a trial de novo, the Commonwealth shall have the right to appeal directly to the Superior Court from the order of the common pleas court if the sentence imposed is in violation of this section. If, in a city of the first class, a person appeals to the court of common pleas after conviction of a violation of this section in the municipal court and thereafter withdraws his appeal to the common pleas court, thereby reinstating the judgment of sentence of the municipal court, the Commonwealth shall have 30 days from the date of the withdrawal to appeal to the Superior Court if the sentence is in violation of this section.
(j) Additional conditions.--
In addition to any other penalty imposed under law, the court may sentence a person who violates section 3802 to any other requirement or condition consistent with the treatment needs of the person, the restoration of the victim to preoffense status or the protection of the public.
(k) Nonapplicability.--
Except for subsection (e), this section shall not apply to dispositions resulting from proceedings under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63.
(Nov. 29, 2004, P.L.1369, No.177, eff. imd.; May 11, 2006, P.L.155, No.36, eff. imd.; May 8, 2012, P.L.255, No.39, eff. 60 days; July 20, 2017, P.L.333, No.30, eff. imd.; Oct. 24, 2018, P.L.925, No.153, eff. 60 days; July 11, 2022, P.L.717, No.59, eff. 120 days)
2022 Amendment.
Act 59 amended subsec. (e)(2)(ii) and added subsecs. (c.2) and (c.3). The preamble of Act 59 provided that Act 59 may be referred to as Deana's Law.
2017 Amendment.
Act 30 amended subsec. (c).
2012 Amendment.
Act 39 amended subsec. (k) and added subsec. (c.1).
2006 Amendment.
Act 36 added subsec. (f.1). See the preamble to Act 36 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to legislative intent.
2004 Amendment.
Act 177 amended subsecs. (a), (b) and (c) and added subsec. (k).
Cross References.
Section 3804 is referred to in sections 1547, 1556, 1575, 3803, 3805, 3806, 3815, 3816 of this title; section 7508.1 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses); section 9763 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).