What are Virginia’s laws against driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol?

Virginia is well known for having some the most strict laws concerning the DUI and other traffic related violations. There are several stages that consist of a DUI arrest, and it’s not uncommon for the police to make mistakes and wrongly arrest the alleged perpetrator.

If a person is a first time offender, there is a mandatory one-year license suspension. Not only that but a breathalyzer has to be installed on the vehicle for six months; there will also be a five-day incarceration period if the blood alcohol content is 0.15%. If the blood alcohol content is more than 0.21%, then that consequence increases to a ten-day incarceration.

The implications for a second offense is three-year license suspension. Also, to a ten-day jail sentence if it happens with five to ten years after the first offense. An ignition interlock has to be installed on the vehicle for at least six months. If a person is an offender for the third time, it is considered a Class 6 felony and the offender’s driving privileges will be revoked indefinitely by the DMV.

To restore driving privileges, you would have to petition the court that convicted you. Then you will become eligible for a restricted driver’s license in three years and a full-fledged restoration in five years. If an offender is under 21 and has a blood alcohol content from 0.02 to 0.08, then they will be charged with a criminal offense with suspended license for six months and a $500 fine. Minors receive the same treatment as those who reached the legal drinking age, a DUI stays on a person’s record for eleven years and is a six-point offense in Virginia.

If you or a family member have been charged with a traffic violation in the state of Virginia, contact experienced Virginia traffic attorney David A.C. Long immediately. He utilizes his experience and knowledge of Virginia’s laws to protect the rights of his clients who might be facing legal issues such as DUI or reckless driving charges. Attorney David A.C. Long can also help those who are facing various traffic violations in the following Virginia cities:

Car Crashes Into Light Pole Killing Two and Injuring Another in Huntington Beach

Around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning Huntington Beach Police received reports of a car accident involving three males. The accident occurred near the northwest corner of Algonquin Street and Warner Avenue, stated Sgt. S. Shepherd of the Huntington Beach Police.

According to investigators, a 1997 Buick LeSabre was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Warner Avenue and crashed into a light pole on Algonquin Street. It is still uncertain if alcohol or drugs were involved. Two 18-year-old men, Austin Mitchell and Joshua Holman of Huntington Beach were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

A male in his 20s was transported to UCI Medical Center in Orange for critical injuries sustained in the collision. Police are investigating to see if the man was ejected from the vehicle or if he was a pedestrian.  The police stated that if anyone had information about the accident to contact Huntington Beach Police.

A car accident can be devastating to not only to those involved but families and friends as well. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car or truck accident in Huntington Beach and are not sure what to do, contact our truck accident attorney in Huntington Beach attorney today.

Multiple Vehicles Involved in Anaheim Crash

California Highway Patrol officials responded to a collision that possible involved four vehicles. The ordeal caused the closure of the westbound lanes of the 91 Freeway stated California Highway Patrol Officer Jon Latosquin.

According to the authorities, the crash occurred around 1:00 a.m. near East Street in Anaheim. Anaheim Fire & Rescue treated three people for injuries sustained in the accident. Police had closed off all westbound and we directing traffic to take the east street exit and reenter the freeway using the Lemon Street onramp.

Police are still investigating the scene of the accident; it is still unknown at what time the westbound lanes will be reopened. Do you know someone that has been involved or injured in a car crash in the Anaheim area and are in need of legal help? If so, contact our dedicated Anaheim car accident attorney today.

What Are Virginia’s Laws On DUI?

For a first time offender, navigating the complex laws related to DUI in Virginia can be incredibly frustrating and challenging. To best understand your options, if you are indeed arrested for a DUI offense, there are a few things you are going to want to understand.

Knowledge is power when it comes to this type of circumstance. The more you know about Virginia DUI laws, the more productive your relationship with your DUI attorney is going to be.

Understanding Virginia DUI Laws

The penalties related to a DUI conviction vary, depending on how many prior convictions you have. While arrests can be contested and even beaten, the penalties for DUI convictions tend to include the following:

First offense: You may find yourself facing a minimum jail sentence of five days, two-hundred-and-fifty dollars in fines, and a license suspension of up to a single year.
Second offense: 2-time offenders may find themselves facing a jail term of twenty days to a full year, a minimum fine of five hundred dollars, a license suspension period of up to three years.

Third offense: If you are convicted for the third time, you may have your license suspended indefinitely. Furthermore, you may find yourself facing a minimum six-month jail sentence, in addition to minimum fines in the amount of one thousand dollars.

Obviously, you are going to want to take any DUI arrest seriously, regardless of whether you are facing your first conviction, your second, or your third. The severity of your charges is going to depend largely on your prior record, as well as something known as your BAC level (blood alcohol content). If you are under the age of twenty-one, you have to have a BAC level of .02%, to be considered legally drunk in the state of Virginia. If you are over the age of twenty-one, you must have a BAC level of .08%, to be considered legally drunk in the state of Virginia.

You should also keep in mind that Virginia has something called an implied consent law. What this means is that if you refuse to take a chemical test, you can be subject to automatic fines and suspensions. A 1st offense typically comes with a one-year suspension of your license. For 2nd or 3rd offenses, the suspension period can be even longer than that.

Regardless of your current situation, the dedicated DUI attorneys at the law office of David A.C. Long are able to give you the assistance you will need. So contact our experienced DUI attorneys today to ensure that you are rightfully protected. The law firm of David A.C. Long are able to represent clients that have been arrested for DUI in the following areas:

Bellevue Police Arrest Man For DUI Related Accident

According to Bellevue police, a DUI driver crashed into seven other vehicles on Thursday afternoon outside of the Factoria Mall. Following this event, the DUI driver attempted to carjack two other vehicles. A portion of the mall was closed down as a result. Many people called 911 to report the incident from the Factoria Mall.

When Police arrived, four civilians were holding the DUI driver down on the ground in attempts to keep the 32-year-old Lynnwood man from escaping before enforcers got to the scene. The driver was believed to be on some drug and was “pinballing” between the cars in the parking lot causing significant damage to most of the vehicles, as described by a witness.

The driver then exited his vehicle and attempted to remove two people in two different cars to carjack them. The first carjack victim, a man, was able to prevent the man from stealing his car. The second carjack victim was a woman. During the second carjacking attempt is when the four civilians managed to get him down to the ground No one involved in this seven car accident was seriously injured. However, the driver himself was sent to Overlake Hospital after complaining of arm pain. He was later transferred to King County Jail.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Bellevue and are not sure what to do, contact our dedicated criminal defense attorneys in Bellevue today.

Drunk Driver Arrested After Driving Wrong Way on I-85 Causing Accident in Dinwiddie

Late Monday Night, Virginia State Police responded to an accident involving three vehicles with medical personnel just after 9:30 p.m. Apparently, the accident occurred when a drunk Pennsylvania driver entered the wrong way on Interstate 85 and crashed into two semi-trucks. State Police shut down the highway for several hours until the scene of the accident was clear and investigators had gathered what they needed.

The driver was identified as Oxford, Pennsylvania resident Kellie Clyde. According to investigators, the 1997 Dodge Dakota struck a semi near a work zone at mile marker 49. The Dodge then spun around and came to rest in the center of I-85 where it was hit by another tractor-trailer.

Virginia State Police reported that Kellie was arrested and charged with DUI but didn’t disclose their condition.

If you or a family member have been arrested for DUI in Dinwiddie and are in need of help? Contact our experienced Dinwiddie DUI attorney today for a free legal consultation.

911 Audio Released From Freak Accident Rialto

Large Mastiff Puppy Causes Owner To Crash in Santa Ana

Around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, the Santa Ana Police Department received reports of rollover accident where the car had caught fire near the 1200 block of West Memory Lane. As police and medical responders arrived on the scene, they could see an 8-month-old Mastiff puppy and his owner sitting along the sidewalk.

Officer’s stated that the man was cut up and bleeding, but his injuries were fairly minor. After talking to the driver, police learned that the cause of the accident was because of his big puppy. Apparently the young Mastiff jumped from the back seat to the front where he caused the driver to slam into a median and lose control. Witnesses as stated that the car had overturned and soon caught fire. People quickly rushed over and pulled the dog and the driver out of the burning car.

Members of the drivers family came to take the young mastiff home while he was transported to a nearby hospital. Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said that the accident could have been much worst and that the driver and dog were very fortunate. The driver still received a citation for not having his dog secured.

Both dog and the owner were lucky that the could walk away with only a few scrapes and minor injuries. Most accidents in the Orange County area end very violently and cause devastating damages. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident in Santa Ana and are not sure what to do, contact a Santa Ana personal injury attorney right away.

Accident in San Bernardino Kills Hesperia Man

Early Wednesday morning around 4:00 a.m., California Highway Patrol responded to a single-car accident that killed a 50-year-old man. According to California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Alvarez, the driver was traveling south on Cajon when he lost control and swerved off the road.

In a report, Officer Alvarez stated that the vehicle then continued through a chain-linked fence where it struck a tree. CHP pronounced the driver dead at the scene; he was killed on impact even with his seatbelt on.

Police identified the 50-year-old man as Jeffrey Loup. Investigator believes that drugs or alcohol were not involved in this accident. It’s very unfortunate that Jeffrey Loup lost his life in this tragic car accident. If you have been affected or injured in a car accident, contact our car accident attorneys in San Bernardino today.

Driver of Tractor Trailer Arrested After Hitting Motorcyclist in San Bernardino Mountains

A 63-year-old motorcyclist is now dead after a semi-truck ran a stop sign in the San Bernardino Mountains Sunday afternoon. The motorcyclist was identified as Rick Kagamaster of Irvine; he was pronounced died at 4:56 p.m.

The wreck took place at the intersection of All View Drive and the 18 freeway when 20-year-old truck driver Oscar Garcia ran a stop sign and hit the 2002 Honda Goldwing motorcycle.

The semi-truck driver was unable to stop in time, and Rick was driven over by the rear wheels. Garcia was arrested for investigation of manslaughter; his bail has been set at $1,000,000.

It is a tragedy that 63-year-old Rick Kagamaster lost his life in this accident. If you have, or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in San Bernardino, contact our dedicated San Bernardino motorcycle attorney today.