First DUI Offenses in Virginia
By Vaughan C. Jones
Jan. 23, 2011 4:15p
In Virginia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater. When a police officer pulls you over for suspicion of drunk driving he or she will ask you to perform a series of "field sobriety tests" and they will ask you to submit to a chemical test. In most cases the chemical test will be in the form of a breathalyzer test or, in more rare cases, a blood test. Although it is your right to refuse a chemical test, failure to do so will result in an automatic suspension of your driver's license. Under Virginia's "Implied Consent Law," when you receive your driver's license, you are agreeing to submit to a chemical test when a police officer asks you to do so.
For a first DUI offense, if you are convicted you will be facing:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Up to $2,500 in fines
- Driver's license suspension for 1 year
- Participation in the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP)
A DUI in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor. In most cases, first time offenders whose blood alcohol concentration was below 0.02, who did not cause an accident, will not have to go to jail. Instead the defendant will be ordered unsupervised probation. In addition, as required by Virginia law, all people who are convicted of a DUI, will have an automatic suspension of their driving privileges for one year; however a Judge may allow the person to have restricted driving privileges where they can drive to and from work.
DUI Defense Attorney in Richmond, Virginia
Most individuals who are convicted of DUI are not ordinary criminals. Many of them are honest, hardworking individuals and some of them have family's who depend on them. The consequences for a DUI conviction can vary greatly, depending on the facts and evidence of the case. For this reason, hiring an experienced Richmond criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Vaughan C. Jones can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. We will challenge the evidence against you in an aggressive manor, in order to help you obtain a reduction in the charges against you.
Contact a Richmond DUI Defense Attorney from our firm for today for a free case evaluation.
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