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: