| Virginia DUI Law | | | | of cases have serious legal and administrative |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal | | | | consequences so it is important that you contact a |
| in the state of Virginia. Because it is illegal, driving under | | | | Virginia DUI lawyer immediately so you have someone |
| the influence means that you can be charged with a | | | | to guide you through the legal system and defend you |
| criminal offense and face serious penalties that may | | | | both in court and at any administrative proceedings. |
| include jail time, fines, and loss of your driver's license. | | | | Virginia DUI Criminal Penalties |
| All of these consequences can seriously impact your | | | | The penalties for driving under the influence in Virginia |
| life and make it difficult for you to maintain employment | | | | can include jail time, fines, and other punishments. |
| and meet all of your other obligations. This can make | | | | These penalties increase with each offense you have |
| your life very difficult, especially when you lose your | | | | been convicted of in the past. For a first offense, you |
| freedom or your ability to get where you need to go. | | | | will face up to one year in jail and a one year license |
| Hiring a Virginia DUI lawyer will not guarantee a win in | | | | suspension. There are mandatory minimum jail |
| your DUI case, but it can give you an advantage. A | | | | sentences for offenders with blood alcohol |
| Virginia DUI attorney is a specially trained lawyer with | | | | concentration levels of 0.15% or higher. A second DUI |
| experience and skill in defending DUI defendants. If you | | | | offense will result in a minimum prison sentence of 20 |
| want the best chance for winning your case, a Virginia | | | | days and license revocation for three years. The |
| DUI lawyer is the only way to go. | | | | penalties are enhanced for offenders with extreme |
| Virginia DUI Offenses and Prosecution | | | | BAC levels. If your license is suspended or revoked, |
| Being arrested for a DUI offense in Virginia will result in | | | | you may be able to get a restricted license. This |
| two separate cases being started against you. One | | | | restricted license will make it possible for you to drive |
| will be the criminal case where you face criminal | | | | to medical appointments, work, school, and other |
| charges and harsh penalties if you are convicted. This | | | | necessary locations. Some judges will make you wait |
| case can be frustrating and worrisome because being | | | | for 30 days before you are eligible for a restricted |
| convicted means that you will have a criminal record | | | | license. This means you will not be able to drive at all |
| and may be penalized with jail time and other stiff | | | | during the first 30 days of your license suspension |
| punishments. The second case is an administrative | | | | period. If the judge makes you wait for 30 days, your |
| proceeding where the state of Virginia will attempt to | | | | lawyer may make a motion that you be allowed to |
| suspend your driving privileges for a specific period of | | | | take 7 days off of your suspension period to reflect |
| time. Not having any driving privileges will make your life | | | | the time you served with the administrative suspension |
| very difficult, especially if you live in an area where you | | | | you were given by the state licensing agency. |
| do not have access to trains, buses, or other forms of | | | | Importance of a Virginia DUI Attorney |
| transportation. You may have to rely on others to get | | | | Having a Virginia DUI lawyer on your team will not |
| where you need to go. Hiring a skilled Virginia DUI | | | | guarantee that you successfully defend yourself |
| lawyer can help you to keep your driving privileges and | | | | against DUI charges. There are many variables |
| defend yourself against the DUI charges in your | | | | involved in a DUI case, so guaranteeing a successful |
| criminal case. | | | | outcome would be unethical. However, hiring a Virginia |
| There are two ways that a person can be | | | | DUI attorney can give you a better chance of having a |
| prosecuted for driving while intoxicated in the state of | | | | successful outcome. DUI is a specialized area of the |
| Virginia. One of these ways is based on the | | | | law and attorneys that specialize in DUI have the skills |
| impairment of the driver after consuming alcohol. With | | | | and knowledge needed to defend you against these |
| this type of prosecution, the case is built around the | | | | charges. An experienced Virginia DUI lawyer may |
| driver being too impaired to operate a motor vehicle. | | | | have access to expert witnesses or a strong |
| Driving habits, failure to perform sobriety tests | | | | knowledge of chemical testing that can help you during |
| successfully, the physical appearance of the | | | | your criminal case. If your attorney is able to find a |
| defendant, and the smell of alcohol on the defendant | | | | piece of information or a witness who can shed some |
| may all be taken into consideration in this type of DUI | | | | doubt on the validity of a chemical test or the testing |
| case. The prosecutor does not have to prove any | | | | procedures used, you can use this to your benefit. A |
| particular blood alcohol concentration level. The second | | | | skilled Virginia DUI attorney may also be able to help |
| type of DUI case is based on chemical testing, not on | | | | you when it comes time to try to save your driving |
| driver habits or behavior. In this type of DUI case, the | | | | privileges in the administrative case against you. If you |
| defendant had a blood alcohol concentration level of | | | | have a Virginia DUI lawyer, he or she will be |
| greater than the legal limit of 0.08%. Whether the | | | | knowledgeable about these types of hearings and will |
| defendant was actually impaired is not relevant in this | | | | know what kind of information to focus on when trying |
| type of case. The prosecutor simply has to prove that | | | | to save your licensing privileges. |
| the legal blood alcohol level was exceeded. Both types | | | | |