| The ARD Option to a West Chester or Chester County DUI Offense | First Offender Options | Avoiding the Mandatory Minimum Sentence on a First offense of Drunk Driving in West Chester Pennsylvania

A.R.D. - Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition in Chester County Pennsylvania

If you're facing a first-time DUI charge in West Chester or Chester County Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for a program called A.R.D., or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, which will allow you to resolve your PA driving under the influence case without a criminal record. Ciccarelli Law Offices can answer all of your questions about ARD and help you determine whether it may be an option in your Pennsylvania drunk driving case.

A.R.D. is a program that emphasizes treatment instead of incarceration. Some counties have different guidelines, but, generally, in order to be eligible for accelerated rehabilitative disposition, you cannot have been convicted of DUI in the past 10 years. However, the district attorney has discretion to recommend or deny an individual for the program and each County District Attorney uses slightly different considerations for the program. Contact Us to discuss whether you may be eligible in the County of your arrest.

If you're accepted for ARD in a Pennsylvania DUI case, you'll be under the court's supervision - similar to probation - for six months. You'll also be required to pay restitution if ordered and all court fines and fees and may be required to pay traffic fines, complete community service, highway safety classes and or alcohol or drug treatment. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be subject to license suspension in Pennsylvania for 30 to 90 days. It is possible to avoid suspension altogether in some cases.

If you complete all of the requirements for A.R.D., your Pennsylvania DUI charge will be dismissed and you won't have a criminal record from your driving under the influence arrest. You may then also be able to expunge the DUI arrest from your record. If you fail to meet the requirements after being accepted into the A.R.D. program, the charges against you will be reinstated and you'll be prosecuted for driving under the influence.

ARD can bring a satisfactory outcome to your first-time Pennsylvania DUI case, but it's not your only option. It may be possible to reach a favorable plea bargain or successfully fight your driving under the influence charge in court. A West Chester Pennsylvania DUI lawyer at Ciccarelli Law Offices can help you determine whether A.R.D. or another option can bring a satisfactory outcome to your driving under the influence case. Please contact us today for a free consultation.