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: