| Welcome to the Aftermath of DWI/DUI in Virginia! | | | | If you are convicted of DWI/DUI with blood alcohol |
| One of the first things that hits you, after the alcohol in | | | | concentration of .15 or greater, then your restricted |
| the blood has subsided, is that your driver's license | | | | license will be contingent upon an ignition interlock |
| may be suspended for one year if you are convicted | | | | system being installed in your car. |
| under the strict DUI/DWI laws of Virginia. | | | | This system automatically records the driver's BAC |
| However, you are free to petition the court for a | | | | through a breath analyzer every time the car is |
| restricted license, but the granting of such is at the | | | | started. The driver also has to blow into the breath |
| discretion of the presiding Judge. | | | | analyzer every 5 to 20 minutes (more fun, right?) |
| So what is a restricted driver's license? | | | | As the Holidays approach, more and more police and |
| This type of license allows you to move around in a | | | | law enforcement will be on the roads looking to bust |
| limited manner, rather than completely stopping you | | | | drunk drivers in Prince William County, Manassas, |
| from driving your car. | | | | Warrenton, Culpeper and Fauquier County, Virginia. |
| For instance, with a restricted license, you can | | | | In fact, roadblocks are already being planned, as well |
| commute to and from work, as well as drive around | | | | as other tactics to find and apprehend folks drinking |
| during working hours (if the trip is related to work and | | | | and driving. (Statistics show that DWI/DUI arrests are |
| you have a note from your boss or some other | | | | at their highest rates of the year in Virginia during the |
| confirmation of purpose (exactly what you want to | | | | Holiday party season-no surprise, right?) |
| ask your boss for, right?)). | | | | Remember-all of these penalties, costs and |
| With a restricted Virginia driver's license, you are also | | | | inconveniences (by the way, I haven't even mentioned |
| able to drive to/from the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action | | | | the costs of a good Virginia DWI/DUI lawyer or the |
| Program and other court ordered probation activities. | | | | exorbitant insurance rates you will be paying) can be |
| A restricted license will permit you to drive to and from | | | | avoided by simply calling a cab or car service, using |
| school, medical care and to transport your children to | | | | the designated driver system or crashing on your |
| from the same kinds of things. | | | | friend's couch for the night. |