Being found guilty, or being subject to accelerated rehabilitative dispositoin, for a DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) does not need to involve a car. DUI charges have collateral consequences, and the suspension of your driver’s license operating privileges is one of them.
The collateral consequences were further underscored by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court where the court recently upheld the suspension of a defendant’s driver’s license for operating a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol.
The Commonwealth Court issued its May 14, 2014 ruling in the case of Blika v. Department of Transportation, Mr. Bilka had his driver’s license suspended for eighteen months for operating a bicycle while intoxicated. Mr. Bilka refused to submit to a blood test (please see my earlier blog post on this topic) when stopped for riding his bicycle while under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Bilka had previously been conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol and had his driver’s license suspended for failing to submit to a blood test. The court ruled that the language of Pennsylvania’s implied consent statute applied to operating a bicycle because a vehicle does not need to be motorized for its operator to be subject to blood and chemical testing.
Experienced legal counsel is crucial whenever you are stopped for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol for any type of vehicle.
If you are accused of a crime, you should discuss your situation with experienced criminal defense counsel. At Amori & Associates, LLC, criminal defense attorney Robert A. Saurman would be happy to discuss your legal situation. Please contact Amori & Associates at (570) 421-1406 for a no obligation consultation.