Berks County DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer
From downtown Reading to the farm towns along I-78, Berks County cases are heard at the courthouse on Court Street in Reading.
Getting arrested in Berks County
Berks County is a mix of a dense city, busy suburbs and a large rural north. The Reading Police Department handles the city, suburbs like Wyomissing, Spring Township and Exeter have their own departments, and the Pennsylvania State Police cover I-78 and much of the northern county.
Common stops include Route 422, Route 222, I-176, I-78, Route 61, and the bar and restaurant strip on Penn Avenue in West Reading. Kutztown University, Albright and Alvernia also bring in their share of underage and first-offense cases.
What happens next
People held after arrest are taken to the Berks County Jail until bail is set. Many DUI cases start with a summons. The first hearing is at a magisterial district court, and cases held for court go to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Reading.
Berks County offers ARD for many first-time offenders, with eligibility decided by the District Attorney. When ARD is not on the table, we test the stop, the field sobriety tests and the chemical results, and negotiate from what we find.
What is different about Berks County
- I-78 stops in the northern county are mostly State Police cases, often involving drivers from out of state.
- West Reading and Wyomissing nightlife produces weekend DUI and disorderly conduct arrests.
- Kutztown University students face both court and campus discipline for the same incident.
You work directly with attorney John Gentry from the first call to the last court date. Your case is not handed off to someone you have never met.
Berks County Courthouse
Where: 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601
Police: Reading Police Department; township departments; PA State Police
Common stops: Route 422, Route 222, I-176, I-78, Route 61
Calls answered Mon–Fri, 9am–6:30pm; after-hours by appointment
John Gentry, Esq.500+ criminal and DUI cases · Licensed since 2007
Communities we cover in Berks County
Berks County questions we hear often
Charged in Berks County? Talk to us first.
The consultation is free and confidential.
Calls answered Mon–Fri, 9am–6:30pm; after-hours by appointment
You'll talk to John Gentry, not a call center