Criminal Defense at the State and Federal Level
(800) 243-4878
At Manchester and Associates we handle Pennsylvania criminal law and DUI defense cases. Call us 24/7 at (800) 243-4878 or email us using the form below.
The Law firm of Manchester & Associates is located in Bellefonte, PA in Central Pennsylvania. Our centralized location allows us to handle DUI defense cases throughout the State of Pennsylvania.
Most lawyers treat DUI charges as just another crime. They are not. They are some of the most complicated cases to handle due to the science and bias against those charged with DUI by judges and society. M.A.D.D. and the media have done a good job brainwashing Americans that people charged with DUI are a plague upon society and everyone is guilty. At Manchester and Associates we work hard to teach judges and juries that this is not the case.
We are constantly learning how to shed light on the prosecutions case to expose the many myths and scientific dishonesty in their case. Most lawyers do not know how to handle a DUI case other than reading some statutes and cases and they either apply for ARD or pleading them guilty. In fact most lawyers who go to trial stipulate to the blood test results. That is just like putting their clients into the jail cell and turning the trial into a long slow guilty plea. They do this because that is all they know how to do. DUI cases not only involve the law, they involve science, mathematics, statistics, physiology, chemistry, human performance, medicine, pharmacology, lab procedures and regulations, and more. An attorney who has not studied these fields has no business representing people charged with a DUI.
At Manchester and Associates over half of our cases are DUI cases. We have handled DUI cases in 48 counties in Pennsylvania ranging from first offenses to Vehicular Homicide While DUI. You want a law firm that regularly handles DUI cases, not some here and there. If you had a bad heart you wouldn’t go to a general practitioner; you would go to a heart specialist.
Most people, including prosecutors and judges think blood test results are correct and field sobriety tests are reliable. Wrong! At best the blood test results are moderately close to what is in a person’s blood. Usually they are not even close. All credible scientists agree that a person’s actual blood alcohol content (BAC) can’t be determined exactly.
BLOOD TESTING
Blood and breath testing is very technical. If blood is not drawn correctly it can become contaminated with a bacteria that creates ethyl alcohol. If it is not stored correctly it will ferment. These are just two out of dozens of ways the blood itself can become tainted.
The two most often used tests are done by Gas Chromatography or Enzymatic Immunoassay (Medical Blood). Both have their problems. A simple way to understand what can go wrong in a blood test is to understand that alcohol is a volatile substance and so is blood. All blood tests involve a human being taking blood from a person, preparing the sample, and then putting it into a very sensitive machine that is operated, calibrated, and programmed by a human. There are many other sources of error I believe you would agree that the number of things can go wrong is substantial.
Not only is there the human error inherent in testing blood, there also exists a natural built in margin of error in every machine, measuring device, and chemical compound used to test for alcohol content. This is a scientific fact. No measurement is ever exact and when it comes to your freedom you need an attorney that knows how to put this information in front of a judge or jury in an understandable way.
BREATH TESTING
Breath testing is done by blowing into a machine in a police station or booking area. Two of the most popular breath test machines are the BAC Datamaster and the Intoxolyzer 8000. These machines are not kept in a neutral third-party location as are blood testing equipment. They are kept and maintained by police officers. The very people who use them and say they are reliable and then testify their results are accurate.
The list of errors is numerous.
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS
Field sobriety tests are designed to gauge whether or not a person’s blood alcohol content is over the limit, not if you are incapable of safe driving. The three standardized field sobriety tests, were created by Dr. Marceline Burns. She has testified that there is NO correlation between the performance on a field sobriety test and a person’s ability to drive a car.
DUI CHARGES BASED ON DRUGS
Most people only think you can be charged with DUI if you take illegal drugs. That is not true. You can be charged with DUI based on taking legally prescribed medicine or legally purchased over the counter medicine. The police are filing these charges more and more and in Pennsylvania you will receive the highest level of punishment even if all you did was follow your doctor’s orders. Defending drug based DUI charges requires even more specialized training and knowledge. Both of which I possess as I handle drug based DUI cases on a daily basis as well.
FEES
Although I spend hundreds of hours each year studying the law and science of defending DUI cases as well as thousands of dollars on reference materials and attending seminars, We understand that not everyone is independently wealthy so I have set my fees accordingly. We charge on a flat fees basis. Our fee is based upon whether or not you are facing a first lifetime offense or if this is your second or subsequent offense. We will be glad to discuss my fees with you after I speak to you about the facts of your case first. As I stated earlier, you wouldn’t go to a general practitioner if you had a heart problem and we don’t believe you would choose your doctor on price alone. The same reasoning applies to your DUI charges.
If you are accused or charged with a DUI, you need to protect your rights. Our initial consultation is FREE! Protect your rights, call us anytime 24 hours a day! (800) 243-4878
You will want our knowledge of the Pennsylvania DUI Law and our real world experience earned from representing thousands of people charged with criminal offenses on your side. Our lawyers handle both Vehicular-Alcohol Offenses, Controlled Substance Offenses, and Non-Vehicular Alcohol Offenses in local, state, and federal courts. Regardless of the crime at issue, Manchester and Associates will protect your rights and vigorously defend you.
There are 3 levels of DUI in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation claims that over 55,000 people were arrested in Pennsylvania for DUI in 2008. The State of Pennsylvania is aggressive in enforcing its DUI laws. Whether you are a first time DUI offender or a multiple DUI offender, Manchester & Associates can help you. We will evaluate your individual situation and explain the options and possible outcomes to you. Regardless of your situation we will protect your rights and vigorously defend you.
At Manchester and Associates we understand that when people find themselves charged with a first-time DUI, they have numerous questions about the DUI law, the PA judicial system, and what can be done to help them. We also understand that people can feel stressed or anxious and even depressed when charged with a DUI for the first time. Pennsylvania DUI law focuses on treatment for first-time DUI offenders, rather than strictly punishment and suspension. Pennsylvania DUI law also creates a higher set of penalties for those having higher BAC levels. It allows for treatment at all levels, and requires alcohol highway safety school for all first and second time offenders. Many factors will influence your specific situation and determine your case outcome. Click here for a summary of the Pennsylvania DUI law.
Our knowledge of the Pennsylvania Criminal Law and real world experience earned from representing thousands of people charged with criminal offenses, will help reduce any anxiety, stress and depression you may experience. We will answer your initial questions immediately and continue to keep you informed as the case progresses. Manchester and Associates will take the time to analyze your situation and explain your options to you. We can't guarantee a specific outcome, but we will work hard for you to protect your rights and minimize the impact of your first DUI.
Pennsylvania DUI law gets much tougher on multiple DUI offenders. If you have had one or more previous DUI's your defense will be more difficult. Second or subsequent offenders should expect a term of imprisonment, probation, loss of license, installation of an ignition interlock device, alcohol highway safety class, and possibly a drug and alcohol evaluation and treatment program, unless you are acquitted. Manchester and Associates can't guarantee a specific outcome, but we will work hard to protect your rights and get you the best possible outcome.
Pennsylvania requires individuals convicted of a second or subsequent DUI offense to have an ignition interlock system installed on their vehicle for one year. Ignition interlock devices work by requiring the driver to blow into the device before starting the vehicle. If the device detects alcohol, it will prevent the vehicle from starting. Ignition interlock devices will also prompt the driver to blow into the device at period times during the operation of the vehicle.
At Manchester and Associates, we believe in personal relationships and personal contact with our clients. Our clients will never have to deal with an answering service. Once your case comes across their desk, our lawyers will make a personal phone call to you to talk about your needs. After your FREE initial consultation they will always be available to you by their own phones day or night. The lawyers and staff at Manchester and Associates are always available to you 24/7. We understand that being charged with a crime does not just happen between the hours of 9 to 5 and that a lot of arrests occur when its dark out, and on the weekends, that is why our office phones are always forwarded to our lawyers cell phones and are answered by them personally.
Our initial consultation is FREE! Protect your rights, call us anytime 24 hours a day! (800) 243-4878
Manchester & Associates
Attorneys at Law
R. Bruce Manchester, Esquire | Brian Manchester, Esquire
124 West Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823
(800) 243-4878