Pennsylvania DUI: First Offense

Last reviewed: 2026-07-17

A first DUI in Pennsylvania is generally classified as a ungraded misdemeanor.

• Jail: none (general impairment) / 48 hours (high) / 72 hours (highest) – 6 months; mandatory min tier-dependent as above
• Fine: $300–$5,000 (general: $300 flat; high: $500–5,000; highest: $1,000–5,000)
• License suspension: NONE for general impairment; 12 months for high/highest – 12 months; hardship: Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL) available almost immediately for high/highest
• Ignition interlock: Not required at this level — Not mandatory on a first offense, but the IILL is the practical route to keep driving.
• Alternative disposition: ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) for most first offenders: dismissal + expungement after program; suspension only 0–90 days. The single most important PA fact for first-offense readers.
• General-impairment first offense with no accident: probation up to 6 months, $300, no suspension — among the lightest first-DUI outcomes in the US.

Lookback period: 10 years.